DeMar DeRozan Will Reportedly Opt Out This Summer if Spurs Contract Extension Can't Be Reached

The San Antonio Spurs aren't having an ideal 2019-20 season, as they sit a handful of games out of a Western Conference playoff spot. They will need to find ways to improve this offseason, but may have to add replacing one of their centerpiece players to the list of priorities.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports, veteran wing DeMar DeRozan will forgo his $27.7 million player option for 2020-21 and hit the open market if he and the Spurs cannot come to terms on a contract extension.

DeRozan plans to opt out of his player option and become a unrestricted free agent if he and the Spurs aren't able to agree on an extension, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/MdwOHMhGli
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 11, 2020

The move is a wise one for DeRozan, as he'd enter a relatively weak free agency class and would arguably be the best wing available. At 30 years old, this summer could be his best chance at one more legitimately big payday with some security built in.

DDR famously ended up in San Antonio in the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. After so many years up in Ontario, the Raptors famously won the NBA title in DeRozan's first year away.

If DeMar DeRozan and the San Antonio Spurs are unable to agree on a contract extension, DeRozan plans on declining his player option to enter free agency this summer, per @ChrisBHaynes.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 11, 2020

This year, however, DeRozan is making it work with the Spurs. Entering Tuesday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, he was averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game along with a career-high field goal percentage of 52.8.

DeRozan has laid down the gauntlet: if the Spurs don't pay up, he'll get the money on another squad.