As the rebuilding phase continue for the Los Angeles Lakers, it seems like the team already has its sight set on the Toronto Raptors' explosive forward DeMar DeRozan in the upcoming offseason.
DeRozan is one of the rising young players in the National Basketball Association (NBA), while the Lakers are trying to become contenders again and are filled with talented youngsters.
The 26-year-old forward is from Compton; that is why when the New York Post reported that he will opt out of his current deal after the 2015–16 season, he was immediately linked to the Lakers.
But the Toronto Sun suggested in its report that DeRozan is likely to opt out of his deal, but will not leave the Raptors who selected him ninth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.
The Toronto Sun mentioned that DeRozan might opt out to negotiate a better and much lucrative contract with Toronto.
"That's one you thing you can never question: my loyalty to the city," DeRozan said in an interview with Joey Vendetta on "The Jeff Blair Show."
"How much I really love and appreciate the team and the organization. I think all the fans understand that. A lot of times they don't understand how contracts or things like that. But I've always stressed that this is where I want to be my whole career," the former All-Star also shared.
The Lakers have been interested in DeRozan for some time now, with reports stating that the organization is trying to acquire him to become a possible replacement for retiring franchise star Kobe Bryant.
It is likely that despite the loyalty DeRozan expressed for the Raptors, the Lakers will try to acquire him in 2016, especially with the team having the cap space to get a potential deal done.
But with the way he is playing and maturing in the sport, the Raptors will not be parting ways anytime soon with DeRozan who is currently their leading scorer.
