DeMar DeRozan re-signs with Toronto Raptors

NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan has officially re-signed with the Toronto Raptors on a multi-year deal which will keep him playing in Canada.

On Thursday, All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan officially re-signed a multi-year deal with his NBA team of seven seasons, the Toronto Raptors. A report via CFJC Today indicates that the deal will be worth $139 million over the next five years. The news comes the same day as Toronto locked up a deal with free agent Jared Sullinger for a year using their $5.6 million mid-level exception.

It seems as if DeRozan knew exactly where he’d be continuing his career as he reportedly didn’t test the free agency market and only took a meeting with his current team. After an introduction by team general manager Masai Ujiri, DeRozan was quoted as saying, “I am Toronto. Outside of where I’m from, I represent this city harder than anybody. I’ve got so many goals I want to accomplish still, I just can’t wait to put that jersey back on and keep going.”

For the 2015-16 season, DeRozan averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and four assists per contests, while playing in 76 games of the season. He also helped the team in achieving a deep playoff run which saw Toronto make a first ever appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Over the course of his career, he’s averaged just over 18 points a game and about four rebounds per contest while appearing in 521 games. It also appears he embodies the trait of loyalty, as he’s kept with the same team so far in his career. There was speculation he may have looked into joining another franchise for more money, or possibly moving to Los Angeles to play in the area he’s from.

DeRozan’s decision to stay put seems to make a good deal of sense too, as the team has a majority of their core pieces in attack and should be among the top squads in the Eastern Conference for the upcoming season. The two-time All-Star will join fellow star Kyle Lowry in doing battle as they attempt to push past the Cleveland Cavaliers in their next campaign.

The Toronto guard’s choice to stay with his team will likely be overshadowed by the media’s continued portrayal of Kevin Durant jumping ship from OKC. However, DeRozan told the media with regards to his decision to stay put, “Every person that’s close to me, every person who knows me, if I’m in it with you, I’m in it with you. That’s just the type of person I am. That’s how I always live my life.”

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