After having a monster season, DeMar DeRozan is set to get a huge max deal from anybody who’s willing to offer him nine figures. Although DeRozan would thrive in a bigger market, it appears he wants to stay in Toronto.
Via ESPN:
Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan does not plan to schedule meetings with other teams at the start of free agency, opting to focus on working out a contract to return to the Eastern Conference finalists, a source told ESPN.com.
DeRozan, 26, a two-time All-Star who led the Raptors with 23.5 points per game last season, has been consistent in stating that his strong preference is to remain with the only franchise he has played for during his seven-year NBA career.
That’s noble of DeRozan to show his loyalty to the Raptors. The Raptors were two wins away from getting to their first NBA championship appearance. Their Eastern Conference Finals appearance was also the team’s first in their franchise history, so it appears DeRozan feels the Raptors have unfinished business.
“My mindset has always been Toronto,” DeRozan told reporters the day after the Raptors were eliminated 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.”