Report: DeRozan focused on re-signing with Raptors, no other meetings planned
DeMar DeRozan made it clear after the Toronto Raptors were eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals that re-signing with the franchise this summer was going to be his top priority.
With free agency fast approaching, the All-Star shooting guard is focused on coming to terms on a new contract with the Raptors after opting out of his deal, sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
His commitment to the organization is so strong, that DeRozan has no plans to meet with any other teams, and will reportedly only open the lines of communication elsewhere only if negotiations with Toronto somehow fall through.
"My mindset has always been Toronto," DeRozan told reporters after the Raptors were bounced from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I've always preached it. I was passionate about it when we were losing, when we were terrible. I said I was going to stick through this whole thing, and I want to be that guy who brings this organization to where it is now. I definitely don't want to switch that up after we win."
With the NBA's salary cap projected to hit $94 million, the Raptors could sign DeRozan to a max contract worth $153 million over five years - one year longer and approximately $39 million more than all other teams as a result of possessing his Bird rights.
DeRozan has competed north of the border for the past seven seasons after going ninth overall in the 2009 NBA draft. He ranks third all-time in games played (521), second in points (9,436), sixth in assists (1,371), and fifth in steals (492).
The Los Angeles Lakers were at one point interested in making a push for the Southern California native, but are reportedly "not that high" on him any longer.
Toronto has progressively won more and more games every season since 2010, culminating in the team setting a new franchise record with 56 victories and a first-ever appearance in the Conference finals in 2015-16.
DeRozan averaged a career-best 23.5 points in 78 appearances, including 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 35.9 minutes.
There will be no rest for the weary, though, as he will join 11 of the NBA's best this summer as part of Team USA at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August.