Raptors’ DeRozan shows signs of growth

When you hear that part about the difference between college and NBA players, about why a relatively unknown freshman becomes a lottery pick and a senior who sets all kinds of career records spends the next 10 years shooting jumpers for teams called Panathinaikos or Zalgirls or FYR Macedonia, think of DeMar DeRozan.

Potential. It's the NBA way.

That, and owners whining about losing money one second and giving the likes of Travis Outlaw $35 million the next. Darko Milicic got $20 million this offseason, and Brendan Haywood received $55 million from a team (Dallas) that then traded for Tyson Chandler.

I'm telling you, the people running these teams have completely lost their minds.

I'm not sure how many games Toronto will win next season, given Chris Bosh decided to switch teams (you might have heard about that), but you have to think the Raptors could own better team chemistry than most.

"We went undefeated in Summer League," DeRozan said Friday after an 88-82 victory over Sacramento at Cox Pavilion.

Hey, they went 40-42 last season. It's one way of looking at the fact that much of Toronto's Summer League team has at least a chance of making the opening-night roster, hardly a usual occurrence (unless you are the Raptors or Memphis) and definitely not an ideal scenario most franchises seek.

But with Bosh in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Mr. Decision and Hedo Turkoglu being dealt to Phoenix and Toronto one trade for Andrea Bocelli away from securing one heck of a singer and that long-awaited trio of Bocelli-Bargnani-Belinelli, a second-year player such as DeRozan has suddenly developed heavier shoulders on which to help carry a team that missed the playoffs the last two years.

You might remember him. DeRozan was the kid at Southern California who could have strung together his own personal weekly highlight film. He was all jumps and dunks in college but appears on the way to becoming the type of all-around player destined for one of these out-of-whack contracts worth millions, which would at least put the 6-foot-6-inch wing on par with most football and basketball players at USC today.

He averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds as a rookie, but those numbers in four games here this summer jumped to 21.0 and 4.5.

Sure, it's just Summer League, a place where the great Marco Belinelli once scored 37 in a game, but a player who was selected ninth overall for his athleticism alone is slowly becoming one with more to offer.

"I always tell people that with DeMar, it's a process," said Eric Hughes, coach of Toronto's Summer League team. "Let's not grade him yet. He only played one year of college. He couldn't even check into our hotel by himself here because he's not 21.

"His body needs to develop. He needs to fall in love with the weight room like he has the basketball court. It takes time. But with some of the changes to our team, he's going to have the ball in his hands more and have an opportunity to do some big things for us."

DeRozan averaged about one assist in four summer games, three fewer than Hughes would have preferred. He thinks DeRozan has a chance to become an above-average NBA passer.

The old DeMar wouldn't, more apt to be whistled for charges while attacking than searching for an open teammate. That guy showed up a few times against Sacramento.

Better yet for the Raptors, the new DeMar showed up more.

"I'm a lot better player than last season," he said. "It's all about working on those things you weren't comfortable doing. I knew (in college) that I could be good, that I could burst out at any moment. My hopes were always high. Every player in this league is athletic. I have to do the things that separate me from that (label).

"I don't think it's hard becoming a (great player), not for anyone who is committed to putting in the time and work."

This is one of the effects of someone the stature of Bosh moving on, a second-year player such as DeRozan who was drafted on athletic potential being asked to accelerate his learning curve and quickly sharpen a basketball IQ that still has room for growth.

Then again, there are far worse ways to earn a living.

Just ask whoever is in charge of NCAA compliance at USC.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.