DeRozan happy in Toronto amid interest

Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan insisted he is happy in Canada as a frenzied free-agency period looms in the NBA.

DeRozan will reportedly opt out of the final year of his four-year deal with the Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers are believed to be readying a lucrative offer to lure the Southern California native home.

But the 26-year-old shooting guard, who is averaging 23.4 points per game for the high-flying Raptors heading into the All-Star break in Toronto, wants to build on the team’s success at Air Canada Centre.

“My whole mindset has always been this is home for me,” DeRozan said in an interview with ESPN to be aired on Saturday.

“I never think otherwise unless it’s brought up to me, or you see things, or people ask you about certain things.

“This has always been home to me. I took pride in putting on this Toronto Raptors jersey since I’ve been drafted here. And my whole goal was to get this team to the point where it is now. And I feel I’ve been a major key to that.”