NBA Rumors: Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan Contract Extended; Kyle Lowry, DeMarre Carroll demand Higher Pay

By Mitch de Leon
NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors
May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry (7) and DeMar DeRozan (10) sit together on the bench during a time out against Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre.The Cavaliers won 113-87.  Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA playoffs 2016 of the Toronto had been a remarkable one. Although Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan failed to carry the team to the Finals to face off against the Golden State Warriors, the journey towards their last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers had been amazing. In fact, fans could attest that the DeMarre Carroll team gave LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love a run for their money.

One of the most widely talked about concern in the NBA is the future of DeMar DeRozan in the Toronto Raptors - a topic that possibly stands second to the Kevin Durant free agency talks. Amid their success in the NBA playoffs 2016, fans are still in tenterhooks when it comes to the Kyle Lowry team's roster next season. Will DeMar DeRozan sign with another team? Among the NBA squads in contention are the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, ChicagoBulls and Sacramento Kings.

"I don't think so," responded DeRozan when asked if he feels an NBA championship ring might be in the bag if he transfers to a different team. The Toronto Raptors leader added, "My mindset has always been Toronto. I always preached it. I was passionate about it when we was losing. When we was terrible, I said I'm going to stick through this whole thing and I want to be that guy who brings this organization to where it is now. I definitely don't want to switch up after we win."

When pressed if his comments meant he has no intention of moving out of the Toronto Raptors and looking into the possibility of signing with the Dwyane Wade or former Kobe Bryant squad, DeRozan shared his pride on being part of his current team. He further noted how much he wants to prove everyone wrong. That is, DeRozan aims to point out that the Toronto Raptors are a promising team - a fact that they managed to show in their impressive battles against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

DeRozan said, "Long time. I haven't changed, not one bit. I took pride in putting that Raptors jersey on when people counted us out or when people said, 'Why go to Toronto? Why this, why, that, why this, why that.' You hear it so much. That gave me the motivation to want to prove people wrong or prove critics wrong."

Meanwhile, rumors are rife that the Toronto Raptors are inclined to pay their key players more this upcoming season. Notably, a max contract might be in order for DeRozan. As for Lowry and Carrolle, there are talks that a heftier salary might be demanded by the two. After all, Carrolle's body almost broke down this season - all in the effort to win the title.

"What those two guys have done for this franchise and this city and this fanbase is nothing short of amazing," shared LeBron James of DeRozan and Lowry. The Cleveland Cavaliers star added, "Being two All-Stars and carrying this team through a first round, seven-game series and a second-round series and then a conference finals Game 6 in their home building, they were spectacular. They were great. These fans here, I know they know what they have, and they sure appreciate talent like DeMar and Kyle, so it was fun competing against them."

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