San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan opts into contract for 2020-21

Jan 27, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan (10) practices before the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan (10) practices before the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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In an entirely expected move, San Antonio Spurs star wing DeMar DeRozan opted into his $27.7 million player option for the 2020-21 season today.

As you may have expected, San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan is not here to leave money on the table this offseason. The veteran wing, a former All-NBA selection with All-Star credentials as well, opted into his lucrative $27.7 million deal for the 2020-21 season. First reported by Yahoo Sports reporter and NBA analyst Chris B. Haynes, DeRozan’s opt-in comes on the heels of a 2020 NBA Draft that’s expected to see lots of moving and shaking.

DeRozan always needed to opt into this deal to be eligible for a trade. Unless he were to agree to a sign-and-trade, DeMar would be an unrestricted free agent with no ties to the San Antonio Spurs if he decided to opt-out. Instead, he’ll have an opportunity to make an impact during a 2021 free agency class that’s loaded with talent and teams willing to spend.

San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan has informed the franchise that he is opting into his $27.7 million player option for the 2020-21 season, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 16, 2020

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Amid a pandemic with no end in sight, securing a $27.7 million payday is the smart choice for DeRozan, who earned that deal with years of service and excellence as a Toronto Raptor. Now that he’s with the San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan has learned what it means to be part of the team culture and exemplifies it to the fullest extent. If he remains with the team, which needs to be the assumption now that he’s opted in, DeRozan should have a chance to put up monster numbers during a contract year with a developing team.

Beyond that, DeRozan’s built some terrific rapport with his San Antonio Spurs teammates and coaches over the course of the last two seasons. It’s a good situation despite him taking a backseat to the up-and-comers during the Orlando restart. In that span, we saw a different version of DeRozan — One that focused primarily on aiding others instead of taking a bunch of shots and commanding extra touches.

This is likely to be consistent with what we expect from DeRozan going forward. Even in that role, he’s still talented enough to lead the team in scoring and do so with masterful efficiency. Beyond that, he’s amongst the best facilitators on the roster and remains a highly knowledgeable player.

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No matter how you spin it, this is a win for the San Antonio Spurs.