With NBA free agency set to officially open at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, it appears that Toronto Raptors UFA DeMar DeRozan won’t be wasting much time meeting with the only team he’s played for in his seven seasons in the pros.

According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes, DeRozan will meet with the Raptors in Los Angeles Friday, and he could follow up with meetings with several teams, including the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers and his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.

The early meeting with the Raptors is unsurprising as the 26-year-old has stated multiple times that his desire is to remain in Toronto.

Earlier this week a report indicated that DeRozan has no plans to meet with any teams but the Raptors, something that doesn’t seem to be the case, according to Haynes.

Granted, the Cleveland.com writer does specify the meetings with those four teams only “could” happen, but free agency can be unpredictable and seeing what else is out there is certainly not uncommon.

After a season that saw him average a career-best 23.5 points per game on 44.6 per cent shooting and a second career all-star selection, DeRozan is expected to command a maximum contract, which will be an estimated $27.6 million per season should the salary cap go up to $94 million as expected.

All of the teams Haynes mentioned will have the cap space to sign DeRozan to such a deal, but only the Raptors will be able to offer him an extra year of term as they own his Bird rights.

As for the other teams, Miami is considered to be a desirable place for NBA free agents, and with word that Dwyane Wade will speak with other clubs an opening at shooting guard could be there for DeRozan to be reunited with former Raptors star Chris Bosh.

The Mavericks are reportedly in hot pursuit of Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, but are also rumored to be on the verge of losing versatile forward Chandler Parsons. At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, DeRozan is certainly more than comparable to Parsons, physically, and could work as a certifiable upgrade, despite his poorer three-point shooting accuracy.

Meanwhile, the Sixers don’t seem to be an attractive destination for a veteran free agent, but after having just drafted Ben Simmons No. 1 overall and armed with a ton of cap space to add to their team even after the possible DeRozan signing this idea isn’t as crazy as it sounds at first.

Additionally, Philadelphia GM Bryan Colangelo was in charge of the Raptors’ front office when the club drafted DeRozan in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Lakers have long been mentioned as an attractive destination for DeRozan, as the two-time all-star grew up in Compton, Calif., idolizing the club.

Ultimately, however, the Raptors should have the best shot to retain their key free agent. The extra money and stability is very enticing for any player and the fact the Raptors are contenders in the East should also only stoke his competitive spirit.