Report: DeMar DeRozan opts out of contract

Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has opted out of his contract with the team and will become an unrestricted free agent.

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Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has opted out of his contract with the team and will become an unrestricted free agent, reports Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes.

The news comes after Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said just weeks ago that re-signing DeRozan was his top priority heading into the off-season.

“Our No. 1 goal is to bring DeMar back here,” Ujiri said in May. “We feel great that he wants to come back to our organization.”

The day after the Raptors by the Cleveland Cavaliers, DeRozan said that he planned to be back with Toronto next season. 

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“My mind-set has always been Toronto,” DeRozan said during exit interviews. “I’ve always preached it. I was passionate about it when we were losing. When we were terrible I’d say ‘I’m going to stick through this whole thing and I want to be that guy who brings the organization to where it is now.’ I definitely don’t want to switch up after we win.”

DeRozan averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists on his way to being named to his second All-Star Game.