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DeMar DeRozan plans to opt out of contract with Raptors

By Tom West

Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the New York Knicks at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the New York Knicks at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Raptors will have him for a few months yet, but it’s been reported that DeMar DeRozan plans to opt out of his contract after this season.

DeMar DeRozan is of great importance to the Toronto Raptors, and is probably their second most valued behind point guard Kyle Lowry due to his offensive impact. With that in mind, they’d surely like to keep him around going forward, but DeRozan reportedly wants to opt out of his contract by using his player option after the 2015-16 season.

As Brian Lewis of the New York Post has reported, a source close to DeRozan has said that he’ll likely be opting to test free agency next summer, while adding that the Brooklyn Nets will be highly interested in him:

"The Nets will have about $40 million in cap space this summer, and they got an up-close look Wednesday at one of their primary expected targets: DeMar DeRozan.The Toronto shooting guard had 15 points, five assists, four boards and two steals in the Raptors’ 91-74 win at Barclays Center. He has a player option worth just more than $10 million for next season, but a source close to DeRozan told The Post that he will opt out, becoming a free agent. But that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be a Net, or anything other than a Raptor."

If DeRozan doesn’t use his player option to opt out, the Raptors will have him under contract through the end of the 2016-17 season. If this source is correct, though, they’ll be losing their 2013-14 All-Star and leading scorer.

Since elevating his game in 2013-14 with 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4 assists per game (all career-highs at the time), he broke out as a first-time All-Star. Last year and this season, he still hasn’t done much to improve his defense or his three-point shot, that is currently at 30.2 percent as he makes just 0.5 threes per game.

That being said, it can’t be denied that DeRozan can score. He’s 11th in the NBA with 22.6 points per game, and uses his strong finishing at the rim (64.2 percent within three feet), improved mid-range game (44 percent from 10-16 feet) and ability to draw contact (7.1 made free throws per game at a 84.5 percent rate).

Those scoring numbers are always going to attract attention in free agency, and can certainly earn him a big contract when the salary cap increases. By the sounds of this report, maybe he’ll wind up in Brooklyn if they offer enough, although a struggling franchise won’t entice everyone.

If he leaves, the Raptors will be forced to look elsewhere to repair the gaping hole that will be left in their backcourt.

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