3 potential landing spots for DeMar DeRozan in free agency

DeMar DeRozan picked the most opportune time to play his strongest stretch of basketball since entering the league in 2009.

Expected to opt out of his current deal and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 26-year-old scoring guard has let the rest of the league know he's more than worthy of a max contract. In 39 appearances for the 24-15 Toronto Raptors, DeRozan is averaging 22.9 points (10th in NBA) on 44.6 percent shooting, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, along with a career-best PER of 21.1.

In his last 15 outings, he's averaging 24.8 points while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep - an area widely considered his biggest weakness. DeRozan has improved his offensive repertoire by attempting fewer shots from mid-range while getting to the basket at a higher rate (11.9 drives per game, second in NBA).

The All-Star swingman should be a hot commodity during an offseason when several teams have the cap room to offer him big bucks, After all, they can't all be in the running for megastar Kevin Durant.

Here's a look at three possible destinations for DeRozan to sign his next big contract:

Toronto Raptors

"That's one you thing you can never question: my loyalty to the city," DeRozan said Friday, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Simmons. "How much I really love and appreciate the team and the organization. I think all the fans understand that. A lot of times they don't understand how contracts or things like that. But I've always stressed that this is where I want to be my whole career."

DeRozan's heart lies in Toronto with the only NBA team he's ever known. Every ounce of growth he's had as a player, his triumphs, heartbreaking defeats, and learning experiences have come wearing Toronto's colors.

It also helps from a financial standpoint that the Raptors can offer him a fifth year - per the collective bargaining agreement - by owning his Bird rights. With the salary cap reaching record heights, it's becoming increasingly difficult to leave any money on the table.

Through the good times and the bad, DeRozan has stayed true to an organization that solemnly supported him to be the next franchise player after Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach. The four-year, $38-million extension he signed in 2012 wound up being an absolute bargain. He'll reap the benefits of his commitment when the Raptors pony up to keep him north of the border.

Los Angeles Lakers

There's something special about playing in front of a hometown crowd.

Compton, Calif. native DeRozan would immediately become the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers (barring a larger acquisition by general manager Mitch Kupchak) in a Kobe Bryant-less world. The Lakers are ready to give the former USC Trojan a max offer of approximately $25 million per season, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.

Management will need to keep morale high as the team looks to rebuild once "The Black Mamba" retires. Adding a hometown boy with an All-Star pedigree to the mix with a slew of young talent (Julius Randle, Larry Nance, Jordan Clarkson, and D'Angelo Russell) could keep ticket holders satisfied - for the time being, anyway.

There's also a chance the Lakers hold on to their top three-protected pick, which would otherwise go to the Philadelphia 76ers from the Steve Nash trade if they drop in the pecking order. Ben Simmons, anyone?

Brooklyn Nets

Ding, dong, Joe Johnson's contract - a debilitating six-year, $124-million monstrosity - will soon be gone. This will give the Brooklyn Nets nearly $40 million in cap room to roll out the red carpet for DeRozan, who the New York Post's Brian Lewis reports they covet.

It's going to take a world of convincing on the part of owner Mikhail Prokhorov to entice DeRozan - or anyone for that matter - to come to a team where the light at the end of the tunnel is so far off in the distance that the most powerful zoom lens on the market couldn't find it.

They have a 10-28 record with the second-worst offense in the league, and no draft picks in the foreseeable future.

Maybe, just maybe Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez can help.

Perhaps being in New York will count for something. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.