Raptors president Masai Ujiri claims he never told DeMar DeRozan he would not be traded, though Ujiri admits making a mistake talking at length with the All-Star shooting guard about his future with the franchise, according to an ESPN report. DeRozan fumed publicly over being traded to the Spurs as their centerpiece of the deal that landed Kawhi Leonard in Toronto.
“I had a conversation with DeMar at summer league, and I really want to leave it at that,” Ujiri said during a news conference Friday. “We spoke … I think maybe my mistake was talking about what we expected going forward from him. So, not necessarily talking about a trade but what I expect from him going forward, and I think that’s where the gap was.”
We have more regarding the blockbuster trade:
- Ujiri simply couldn’t pass up the chance of acquiring Leonard, even though Leonard wants to play in Los Angeles when he can exercise his early termination contract option next summer. Ujiri feels it was worth the risk. “We’ve been doing this for how many years?,” Ujiri said, according to a transcript of his press conference posted by RaptorsRepublic.com. “You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again and when you get a chance to get a top 5 player – which isn’t very often – I think you have to jump on it.”
- Leonard has not expressed any reservations about playing in Toronto, according to Ujiri, who will push hard to convince Leonard to re-sign with the Raptors. “I think there’s a lot to sell here,” Ujiri said. “Our team, our culture, our city, our ownership, we have everything here except a championship, in my humble opinion. I don’t think we lack anything in this city.’
- DeRozan apparently wasn’t impressed by Ujiri’s apology, according to an Instagram post that was relayed by The Score (Twitter link).
- Leonard has officially arrived in Toronto to take his physical. The team tweeted out a photo of him at their practice facility.
Never seen so much outrage for a team making a trade.
You forgot the Nets and Celtics trade
I meant for the way a player was treated. Demar in this case
Was he treated unfairly? It’s business – part of why he earns so much money.
Blake Griffin was sure blindsided. The LACs wooed him with a pitch that made it seem like they wanted him forever.
They gave Blake A-MAX 5-year contract. I would say that’s committing long-term. It’s just that Jerry West came in and advised them to get out of that.
Demar saw his coach get fired after getting the 1 seed so he had to know anything was possible. Blake picked a 5th year over a no trade clause so he knew the risk when he signed it
Funny part is kawhi seen how they traded there franchise player on a whim, he wont stay with the snake ujiri. Just holding face, Toronto has no chance in east with just kawhi.
Toronto was 1st seed on the east last year without Leonard and with Lebron on the Cavs. The Raptors are going to run away with the east.
Fired your head coach since then. Doubt they beat a healthy celtics and sixers are both better and deeper. Besides kawhi who do the raptors have? Og is starter at best in a few years. Lowry also shrinks in games that matter so…..
LOL raptors can’t even win when it matters. And Lowry and a drose 2.0 wont help them win.
Right. ‘Cause loyalty is the most important thing to the guy who just demanded a trade …
I don’t think this was on a whim on Raptors part. If they are to go a step higher they needed to take a risk.
Also this crap about loyalty is a joke. Right!??!
It didn’t matter who he was traded for he’s going to a LA team next season.
Paul George
Paul George was happy and open minded about his trade to okc Leonard not so much with the raptors! He can still end up staying but the situations are different and so are the people
After KL leaves, this U-boater should be fired!
To me this trade for Toronto was go big or go home. It’s not built for any season past ’18-’19. They want steal a ring, and then rebuild.
They wont touch Golden State. They are trying to steal an NBA finals trip which is alright for a team thats never been to a finals
Ujiri doesn’t seem to be very honest to me. If he talks to me about the future & what they expect of me moving forward… The last thing I would assume is that I will be traded a few days down the line, so basically he told him he wasn’t gonna be traded.
Pretty sure ujiri is considered one of the best GMs in the game…
Now that the raptors made this move for Kawhi.
Is this trade possible or I just lost my mind.
Toronto – A. Davis
Sacramento – S. Ibaka
Pelicans – Z. Randolph, N. Powell, K. Koufos.
and picks mix around there from toronto.
is this a all in senario for toronto and to sell in to Kawhi.
not an expert. but just throwing this in.