There was a summer priority for the Toronto Raptors, a need to take care of one of their own and to send a message to DeMar DeRozan, his teammates, his coaches and the NBA as a whole.
President and general manager Masai Ujiri took care of that in the first hours of the league’s free agency period because he had to, and it was logical. Now his work truly begins.
Prolonging a relationship that has been wonderful and successful for both sides, DeMar DeRozan agreed to return to the Raptors on a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $140 million, knocking off the biggest thing on Ujiri’s to-do list.