Amir Johnson doesn’t relish the thought of leaving Dinos

Big man’s expiring contract leaves uncertain times ahead

Amir Johnson doesn’t want to entertain the prospect of change.

Perhaps more than any other Raptor on the roster, the six-foot-nine forward from Los Angeles has embraced Toronto as his adopted home.

But now, on the heels of a crushing defeat to the Washington Wizards that ended the season for his team, Johnson is forced to ponder what’s next. His five-year contract with Toronto expires this season, meaning the soon-to-be 28-year-old will either sign again with the Raps or land elsewhere.

Slumped in his chair at the Air Canada Centre on Monday, Johnson cringed at the suggestion this year’s record-setting Raptors could see some core players swap jerseys in the coming months.

“I don’t really want to think about it, man. I hope we have everybody back,” Johnson said.

“I haven’t heard anything or made any decisions yet. We just got to sit down and talk about it, and everything will play out this summer.”

The power forward arrived in Toronto in 2009 by way of the Detroit Pistons, and has featured prominently in the Raptors’ lineup ever since. He has also settled into the Big Smoke in a big way. Over his six years playing basketball in Toronto, Johnson has sponsored a float in the Caribana parade, handed out free Drake CDs on the street and dressed like a corpse for the Zombie Walk. He’s also thrown a “Roll with Amir” dinner party for fans every season for the past five years.

“Toronto is a part of me,” he told reporters two years ago during training camp. “The people are very kind. I love it here.”

Johnson’s latest season was, statistically at least, on par with the better campaigns of his career. He averaged 9.3 points and 6.1rebounds per game, starting at power forward in 72 of 77 contests in which he played. Though he suffered from a late season ankle injury that kept him sidelined for four games — and also why he came off the bench against Washington — he managed 11.5 points and seven rebounds per game this post-season, which was one of the better performances from Toronto’s frontcourt.

He’s also not the only Raptor who could find himself on a different team next season. Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams is also set to be a free agent this summer, along with Tyler Hansbrough, Greg Stiemsma, Landry Fields and Chuck Hayes.

“I’ve been with this team for six years now,” Johnson said on Monday. “I’ve seen the ups and downs of the team, and I really like where we are now, compared with the past. It just takes time. I feel like we have the chance to do something special.

“Keep a team together and they grow together, they get better,” he continued, “so I hope everyone comes back.”