DeMar DeRozan is clearly upset with the Raptors for trading him (for Kawhi Leonard).
Is DeRozan’s frustration justified?
To a certain extent, he’s entitled to feel however he wants. I would never tell him his reaction is “wrong.”
But that’s not the same as endorsing his outlook. Should we rally behind him and hold Toronto accountable for mistreating him? Answering that question relies on so much hearsay, I’m not sure it’s possible to answer fairly.
In what I find a telling illustration of the situation, ESPN has updated its story on the trade multiple times today. In an early version:
That got changed to:
That’s a subtle, but meaningful, distinction.
Did the Raptors tell DeRozan he wouldn’t be traded? Different people involved in the conversation would probably give different answers.
Did DeRozan take away that Toronto wouldn’t trade him? It seems so, and maybe it’s because team officials told him that directly. But it’s also possible he misinterpreted team officials. Not that he’s willing to grant that possibility.
David Aldridge of NBA.com:
Meanwhile, @DeMar_DeRozan not backing off of claim he was lied to by Toronto regarding a potential trade, per source. Extremely upset.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 18, 2018
Without being privy to the exact wording, I don’t know where to side.
Unsurprisingly, other players are backing DeRozan – some publicly and quite strongly, others anonymously.
Lou Williams:
Na. They ain’t snake my man like that. https://t.co/NL0b1EUg40
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 18, 2018
D.D supposed to retire there. Smh
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 18, 2018
I’m hurt bro. I’m hurt. My dog gave that city and organization his heart and soul. He was loyal to the soil and got stabbed in the back.
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 18, 2018
Isaiah Thomas:
Just learn from my story! Loyalty is just a word in this game SMH
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) July 18, 2018
Damian Lillard:
Smh cold game
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 18, 2018
Anthony Morrow:
Sheesh, Good luck to the Raptors in free agency after kawhi leaves after what they just pulled with Demar. No superstar wanna play for a lying a$$ organization.
— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) July 18, 2018
Enes Kanter:
Mad respect for @DeMar_DeRozan
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 18, 2018
a classy player who has given his heart to a franchise.
One of the most Loyal player I know.
Giving you away for nothing..@Raptors
Chris Haynes of ESPN:
What hasn’t gone unnoticed by some players is how there is no statement in the Raptors’ press release thanking DeMar DeRozan for his contributions over a nine-year period.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 18, 2018
DeRozan meant a lot to the Raptors, and he deserves a proper sendoff. But some of this strikes me as an overreaction.
The Spurs didn’t thank Leonard in their press release, either. Both teams posted cursory messages of gratitude on social media to their outgoing players. Gregg Popovich held a press conference today and said many kind things about Leonard, though. The main difference appears to be Masai Ujiri just hasn’t happened to hold his press conference yet. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t effusively praise DeRozan in it.
And to Kanter’s claim the Raptors gave away DeRozan for nothing? They got Kawhi freaking Leonard.
For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the spotlight-seeking Kanter just saying something outlandish to draw attention.
Even if that were Kanter’s intent, that just feeds into this spiraling into a bigger deal than it probably should be.
If the Raptors told DeRozan they wouldn’t trade him, they shouldn’t have done that. If they told DeRozan they didn’t plan to trade him while they were secretly putting the final touches on this deal, they shouldn’t have done that.
But if they told DeRozan they didn’t plan to trade him and truly didn’t at that moment, I wouldn’t blame them. Plans can change, and it would have done them no good to warn DeRozan of that possibility. If he expected more loyalty, that’s on him.
Ujiri will get a chance to explain himself. So will DeRozan – though his narrative is already gaining significant traction, especially among his peers. Maybe we’ll actually become positioned to make an outside judgment.
Most likely, this will remain a he-said, he-said situation that wanes in significance. DeRozan will probably play hard in San Antonio and grow to enjoy it there. Players – even, I bet, including DeRozan – will forgive the Raptors in time. As much furor as these things evoke in the moment, players rarely hold a grudge to the point of avoiding franchises.
But for now, Toronto is dealing with a perception hit right as it begins its courtship of one of the NBA’s top players, Leonard.
