5 free agency destinations for DeMar DeRozan
By Leah Smith
DeMar DeRozan is one of the biggest stars that will enter 2016 NBA free agency this summer.
DeMar DeRozan has spent his entire professional career with the Toronto Raptors having been drafted by the team ninth overall in 2009. A four-year, $38 million contract signed in 2011 was supposed to keep him in Toronto for another season, but with the salary cap set to increase, he has instead decided to opt-out in order to seek a max contract.
Opting out by no means is a sign that DeRozan will leave Toronto, a team he has repeatedly expressed interest in staying with, but if it is max money he seeks, a plummeting Canadian dollar could make it difficult for the Raptors to match max money.
Another factor to if DeRozan re-signs or goes elsewhere lies in how Toronto does in the playoffs. The two-time All-Star is a key reason for the Raptors’ regular-season success in the past couple of years, but the team has yet to duplicate those results in the post season. The franchise has yet to win a seven game playoff series in its history, and failure to do so again this season could result in major shake-ups including DeRozan leaving.
The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed a great deal of interest in possibly signing DeRozan, but is not the only team looking for a player with his talent.
Here are five potential destinations for the shooting guard.
Next: 5. Orlando Magic