Decisions, decisions with DeMar DeRozan.

This should come as a surprise to no one, but DeRozan and his representation are looking to get paid next summer. DeRozan has a player option worth $9.5 million for 2016-17 and with the cap about to explode, he will almost assuredly turn down his option and become an unrestricted free agent.

DeRozan will likely be looking for the max. As written by Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun:

Ujiri also could swing a deal involving part of his core. Whispers continue to circulate that DeMar DeRozan’s camp will be after the new mid-max (a whopping $25.3 million) a year from now and there is no way the Raptors will be comfortable footing that bid.

The first part comes as no surprise. DeRozan is slated to become a free agent at a time where nearly every team in the NBA will have cap room. $25.3 million is an overpay, but in an auction, it only takes one overzelous buyer. And should that happen, the Raptors are stuck with trying to match that price (not ideal), or walking away with nothing (even less ideal).

The second part is more telling. It reads as speculative on the part of Wolstat, so I wouldn’t necessarily interpret it as a definitive reflection of Masai Ujiri’s thinking (and if we’re being honest, no one knows what Ujiri is thinking, not even the almighty Adrian Wojnarowski). Still, it’s a line of thought I happen to agree with. DeRozan is a very good player and is currently on a bargain contract, but I wouldn’t devote over 25% of the cap to a player of his caliber.

I wrote about the Raptors’ decision with DeRozan back in May: