As someone mentioned, it's a salary cap league. DeMar DeRozan is 5th in PPG out of all guards in the league. And their salaries are as follows (for this season): * Steph Curry - $11.37 mil (because he extended it for 4 years in 2013-14, after next season he's definitely getting a max contract) * James Harden - Signed Max Contract starting 2013-14 season (currently worth $15.76 this season) * Russell Westbrook - Signed $80 mil - 5 year max contract worth $16.7mil this season starting 2012-13 * Damian Lillard - Will make a whopping $21mil next season after signing a five-year $125 to $129mil max contract. Now below DD are * Jimmy Butler - signed a max contract beginning this season * Eric Bledsoe - signed 5 year $70 mil contract starting 2014-15 * Kyle Lowry - Making $12 mil a year * Brandon Knight - $14 mil a year * Reggie Jackson - 5 year $80 mil contract starting this season * Eric Gordon - $15.5 mil Blah blah, you get where I'm going. There are much worse contracts under DD as well such as Joe Johnson. and these are just guards. DeRozan is far more valuable (other than Lowry) than all the players underneath him who are making at least $14 a mil. The 4 guards above him are all on max contracts (except Curry who will be after next season) Judging by the data available, the 2015-16 Max Contract Values, if DeRozan were to sign at max with 7 years of experience after this season (a whole new level from 0-6 years in terms of $$), a 5 year max contract extension would be five year $94,340,250, an average of $18.87 mil a year. If he was offered a 4 year max contract, he would receive $70,057,890 ($3mil more if he signed 4 year with us), which gives an average salary of $17.51mil.

Now look at the top 5, DeRozan is in pretty elite company. And comparing to other people's salary with similar performance, a max contract with $18.87mil seems pretty fair. Now can/will Raps offer that? That's the question. We know DD wants to be here, and we want him. But next season T Ross's salary goes up to around $10mil and JV's goes up to $14mil. Scola is going to be a free agent and we need to sign him/find a replacement, sign DD and get the last piece to put us hopefully over the top. It's going to be tough, hope DD can stay.