The Toronto Raptors opened the NBA’s free agency period by making a major move, agreeing to terms with forward DeMarre Carroll on a reported four-year contract.
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According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors can’t officially sign Carroll until July 9 when the NBA’s free-agent moratorium ends.
That’s not a guarantee, but it’s something that the Raptors can now try and lean on now that Carroll has agreed to come North. It’s possible Toronto could look to deal Ross – or perhaps even DeMar DeRozan – but for the time being the trio will likely split minutes at the 2 and 3 spots.
The complexion of the Atlanta Hawks has changed much over the past week, and the big question is whether or not the team improved or regressed. “I’m Blessed for this Opportunity!”, Carroll wrote.
Carroll was drafted in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009.
The 28-year-old small forward averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 70 games for the Atlanta Hawks last season, and was touted as one of the top players at his position available on the free agent market. His shooting percentage has gone up each of the last four seasons, led by a career-best 48.7 in 2014-15. He suffered a knee injury in Game 1 of the third round against Cleveland.
Carroll never gave that a second thought.
With the Hawks, Carroll found his niche. The Raptors are coming off back-to-back seasons where they won the Atlantic Division, but the team lost in the first round of the National Basteball Association Playoffs both seasons. Carroll may also be the piece the Raptors have been missing to get them over the hump.
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All of those experiences helped him keep going while he was getting tossed around the National Basteball Association, and now the Raptors will welcome that kind of determination to a team that is looking to climb the ladder in the muddled Eastern Conference.
