Report: DeMar DeRozan to opt out, looking for max contract

This shouldn't come as any surprise: Raptors' swingman DeMar DeRozan is planning to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports that DeRozan will forego his player option for 2016-17 worth $10 million to seek a maximum contract this offseason and suggest the Brooklyn Nets could be interested.

With the opportunity to more than double his salary for next season, it's a no-brainer that DeRozan is going to want to test the open market.

Whether or not he sticks with the Raptors is less assured. DeRozan is in the finest form of his career at the moment, averaging 22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, and he'll likely be named an All-Star for the second time in three years next month. It's been noted repeatedly that DeRozan would prefer to remain in Toronto, where he's spent the last seven season after being drafted by the Raptors in the first round in 2009.

What unfolds with DeRozan is the leading subplot to what's already a compelling Raptors season. It's going to take a gigantic financial commitment to keep him around and general manager Masai Ujiri must decided if a core group consisting of DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, and Terrence Ross is good enough to contend for a championship.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr