San Antonio Spurs All-Star swingman DeMar DeRozan is all the team has this season, and rumors are now swirling that he might be on his way out of San Antonio.

Okay, seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge is still locked through 2021, but he’s turning 35 in July and not as impactful as he used to be. He’s about to enter the twilight of his career.

DeRozan is reportedly planning to opt out of his deal in the off-season via player option, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports:

He’ll make same amount that he’s making this season should he opt in ($27.7 million).

DeMar did defuse the hot gossip, though, and reminded everyone who the source should be when there’s news about him – slightly easing the nerves of concerned Spurs fans everywhere:

Say he really wants to leave, can you blame him?

The once unfazed Spurs have been trending down since the second half of the 2017-18 season, where they only went 20-22 in their final 42 games and halted the franchise’s run of 19 consecutive 50-win seasons. They also got bounced in the first round of the playoffs and was basically forced to trade away their injured and disgruntled superstar Kawhi Leonard in the off-season for DeRozan.

Though DeRozan had his usual stats, relentless slashing, and high-flying act on full display, the Spurs didn’t do much in the 2018-19 campaign. Finishing at 48-34, they only had a one-win improvement from the season prior and were eventually swept in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.

The Spurs got worse this season too. They are currently 12th in the Western Conference with a 27-36 record, and in great danger of snapping an NBA-record 22 straight playoff appearances.

San Antonio’s rotation alongside DeRozan and Aldridge are Brynn Forbes, Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Patty Mills, Rudy Gay, and Try Lyles – not exactly a group of gangbusters. No one in there is even averaging more than 11 points.

Murray and White are young, solid, two-way players that still have a good future ahead but it’s not appealing for an aging All-Star.

It’s tough but quite reasonable

It makes sense for DeRozan to find a new home. Along with the team’s lack of promise, he’s also 30 years old now and approaching the back half of his NBA tenure, thus having an understandable desire to be on a championship contending squad – if he indeed wants to.

There’s not enough patience when you’re past your 20s and been in multiple frustrating playoff exits. He’s also still averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on a career-high 52.5% shooting this season, including 18 games where he shot above 60%. It would be great to see such efficiency being showcased on a marquee team.

What are possible destinations?

Going home to Los Angeles may be out of the picture, since the Lakers will have to pay Anthony Davis, which will be on top of LeBron James’s similarly hefty contract, and the Clippers already have two superstars in his position – Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The other California teams (Sacramento and Golden State) aren’t likely as well. The Kings are in a much deeper pit than the Spurs, while Warriors, despite being an interesting choice, would probably be hesitant to break-up their core. They would also have to get rid of Andrew Wiggins as well before they can provide a respectable offer to DeRozan.

That would leave three other intriguing choices – the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, who are both in need of a more reliable and assertive wing, and… brace yourselves… the Toronto Raptors.

I understand that there’s some resentment there, but if the offer is right, who knows? The Raptors are also loaded and can cater to DeRozan’s abilities.

Now, though, with the suspension of the NBA season due to COVID-19, we won’t be finding out more information about DeRozan’s future any time soon.