Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan has decided not to participate in Basketball Without Borders or the NBA Africa game, reports Chris Haynes of ESPN. DeRozan’s former boss, Raptors president Masai Ujiri, is a prominent ambassador for Basketball Without Borders, which will conduct camps leading up to the August 4 game in Pretoria, South Africa.
DeRozan has made critical comments about Ujiri and the Raptors organization in the wake of a trade last week that sent him to San Antonio after nine years in Toronto. DeRozan claims Uriri promised he wouldn’t be traded just days before the deal was completed.
There’s more Spurs new to pass along:
- DeRozan plans to attend the USA Basketball mini-camp this week in Las Vegas, according to Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. DeRozan sees it as an opportunity to get better acquainted with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who has taken over as head coach of USA Basketball.
- Danny Green, who was sent to Toronto in the DeRozan deal, played much of last season with a groin tear that wasn’t diagnosed by the Spurs’ medical staff, relays Kyle Newport of Bleacher Report. In his “Inside the Green Room” podcast, Green says he suffered what he thought was a strained groin in December and he didn’t learn about the tear until his exit interview, Although Green’s agent suggested a second opinion when the injury occurred, Green said he trusted team doctors and still claims they did “everything they could.” In light of his experience, Green adds that nobody should criticize Kawhi Leonard for obtaining a second opinion on his injured quad.
- In the same podcast, Green speculates that Manu Ginobili will return to the Spurs for a 17th season, Orsborn writes a separate story. “With the way he’s been working out, with the way he’s been talking, it seems like we will probably be playing against him this year,” Green said. “I don’t know for sure, (but) he’s under contract and it doesn’t seem like he’s ready to give it up yet.” Ginobli, who will turn 41 on Saturday, has one year left on his current deal at $2.5MM if he decides against retirement. He appeared in 65 games last season and averaged 8.9 PPG.
Man that’s a touchy thing with Rosen…
Ujiri is a snake. I highly doubt derozan would make it up. Players gotta get no movement clauses put in, wish nothing but the best for demar. I hope the raptors lose kawhi for nothing.
There is a no movement clause it’s called a no trade clause. No team will give him a no trade clause. I think only three people in the nba have it for a full contract.
Derozan is a whiner. Masai told him his plans for the future, didn’t tell him he wouldn’t be traded. I highly doubt Masai would make that up. Demar can keep whining on social media and being a big baby about it instead of growing up and dealing with it one on one with Masai.
Smh I can’t even begin with this
Poor Derozan. Tired of his whining already. Move on you make more in a year than most in a lifetime. Can’t wait to go BOO HIM
Kawhi was the most annoying Spur, now DeRozan is.
I still cant believe de rozan was traded. he was their best and loyal player and traded for an elite player but with no loyalty. i can understand if derozan felling so mad. how about raptors fan….??? do you like this traded?
I’m a Raptors fan and I love the trade.
How can its good for u? Im bulls fan. I know kawhi is elite defender and good scoring but his contract is only 1 year and next year he will gi to LA. DE ROZAN is raptors best player.and he is loyal player.
He is owed 83 mill over the next 3 years. And he goes awol in the playoffs. The raptors can’t count on the fact Lebron is A laker now to hope they make it to the finals. They made the right move
DeRozan wasnt the Raptors best player. They were trying to get rid of him for obvious reasons, and they not only did that, but they added a top 3-5 player in the NBA while doing so. Incredible trade for Masai Ujiri and Toronto
Cannot stand Ujiri, starting to think Colangelo was right about him… SMH, he could at least be honest & say we back stabbed our franchise player, so then we can all move on.
Also no one seems to mention about Green, man looks like San Antonio must have the worst medical team in the league, got it wrong with Kawhi but also with Green, man if it was me I wouldn’t let them near me even if I just had a cold.
About Green, his experience is almost corroborating evidence for Leonard’s issues with the Spurs.
Wow DeRozan keeps making himself look worse. Not only doesnt he realize he isnt close to as good as he is, now he is punishing charities. Grow up