The former Raptors’ leading scorer and head coach are mad at team president Masai Ujiri, Josh Lewenberg of TSN reports. DeRozan publicly criticized Ujiri on social media after being traded to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster, feeling that Ujiri misled him during a summer-league conversation. DeRozan said during USA Basketball minicamp that he’s not interested in reconciling with Ujiri. “No reason to have a relationship,” he said. “I’m done. I’m done. It’s just done for me, from my end.” Dwane Casey, now the Pistons’ head coach after getting fired by the Raptors after the season, also has lingering issues with Ujiri, according to Lewenberg. They haven’t spoken since the firing and Casey still feels plenty of resentment toward Ujiri, Lewenberg adds.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- DeRozan’s former backcourt partner, Kyle Lowry, doesn’t sound thrilled about the trade, according to Lewenberg. Lowry claims he has no relationship with Leonard and has yet to speak with him. Lowry was evasive when asked specifically about the trade. (Twitter links).
- New Knicks coach David Fizdale met with star player Kristaps Porzingis in Latvia and appears to be building a strong relationship with the rehabbing power forward, Ian Begley of ESPN writes. Fizdale said he’s trying to keep Porzingis in the loop as he works his way back from knee surgery. “We’ve talked about his rehab. We’ve talked about how we want to play, our style of play,” Fizdale told Begley. “Talked a lot about the culture that we’re building. We want to make sure that he comes back strong and healthy and we don’t want to rush it. … I’ve tried to make sure that he’s – we’ve been in communication on every decision that we’ve made.”
- The Celtics’ signing of Jabari Bird is an example of how two-way contracts should work, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Bird played for Boston on a two-way contract last season after getting drafted in the second round. The 6’6” swingman showed enough development to earn a spot on the 15-man roster, getting signed to a two-year contract this week.
Ship Kyle Lowry out also enough with the bromance crap it’s business and a league of grown men, leave your emotions at the door. We never saw Griffin crying after he signed for 5 years and got traded to Detroit, he just went on about his business.
True. Everyone is ripping the Raptors for their moves. They may not have been the best moves basketball wise but thats not the issue. People act like Demar and Casey were entitled. The only dumb thing was hiring Caseys assistant. If you fire him bring a fresh face
I think they’re giving the assistant much of the credit for previous successes. They’re thinking give him the reins and they can go even further.
Perhaps Casey help them back a little bit. But Casey will be fine and do well in Detroit.
The NBA is about trades. The Raptors had more loyalty than most teams… they were together for what, four or five years?
Time to mix it up a little bit. You weren’t fired and out of a job DeRozen. You just moved to a different city in the same league, the same Union, the same paycheck. Transferred to another town. Happens all the time in life not to say anything about sports.
100% couldnt agree more
All that this news is doing is killing the chances of Ujiri ever signing a high profile player again..Especially with all the bad press Ujiri is getting, it is going to be A LOOONG TIME before any superstar or really talented player signs to play for him..
It’s a player’s league, and when you blindside and upset one of the more likeable, relatively high-profile players in the NBA, ALL WHILE tossing out a well respected, player’s coach in Dwayne Casey like hot trash…Yeah, you’ve got a long way to go before any legitimate player ever signs with you again..
It might sound like am overreaction, but the NBA has the closest player’s association. That’s why the players basically run the teams and the league as a whole..
So, all Ujiri has done by acquiring Kawhi is solidify that he will never get his hands on another player as talented as Kawhi nor Derozan..Well, of course, unless he drafts them, or trades for another unhappy player..Now, no one worth a crap is willingly coming to Toronto as long as Ujiri is around..
Ohh, and the player he decided to keep, Kyle Lowry, was the main reason Toronto could never get over the hump..lol..Great job Ujiri, great job!! Also, he’s basically a negative asset right now, because of the absurd contract Uniri gave him..Again, great job!!
I’m impressed Dionis. Well thought out and spot on!
IMO Lowery and DeRozan need to grow up. Players get traded all the time. I can understand making a negative statement, but i imagine it won’t go over big in San Antonio with all his whining. And Detroit won’t have any patience if the head coach is whining as well.
Ujiri might want to consider trading Lowry to Spurs for a decent return.
What’s your proposal?
Spurs dont need guards
Lowry is untradeable because of his age, performance, and contract. The Raptors were a little too loyal.
Totally agree with bravesfan88. Ujiri has damaged Toronto for a long time. Again DeRozan wasn’t the problem it was Lowry which is a good player but nowhere near the contract they gave him a very very marginal all-star at best, another Conley, overrated players. DeRozan is a legit all-star & all-NBA player, so to me it doesn’t make sense the trade, as I said their trades were Lowry, Ibaka & Valanciunas, very overrated & overpaid players, DeRozan the only one that wasn’t either thing, also he was loyal, something never seen before in Toronto…
but….there are so many raptors fans like this trade….its so confusing….
You all need to get over yourselves the same way DeRozan needs to get his together. To say Ujiri damaged Toronto… who was the last all star to sign with Toronto!?? It has never happened so to say no star will sign because of Ujiri makes no sense. As for the trade, if you think that DeRozan is anywhere near or equal to Kawhi you need to watch more basketball. For once in franchise history, the Raptors have a legit top 5 NBA player who also happens to be a top defensive player in the league. Not to mention they also received one of the top 3 and D men in the league in Green. There is no way you cannot view this as an upgrade. Ujiri did nothing but his job- which is to make this team better and do whatever he can to put the team into contention. The reason DeRozan isn’t a Raptor anymore is because he didn’t do his in the playoffs. Plain and simple. I love DeRo and I respect him and what he represented in Toronto but he, along with some of you here, need to put your head in the game and move on. Everyone gets traded. It’s business.
Kawhi on a 1 year deal is exponentially greater than.Derozan for several.uears on a terrible contract. This is the first time ever Toronto has an actual chance. And I dont get why Lowry would be upset. He has been their best player, but now they have a 27 year old, top 3-5 player in the NBA, that fits better with him. His team is trying to win. Why would he be upset about that? Also, didnt he and Derozan have issues before last year, or am I remembering that wrong?
No I think you’re right. They blamed each other for not getting over the hump. You didn’t get it done, well you didn’t either.
Look, no superstar FA has ever signed in Toronto, so Ujiri hasn’t damaged anything. Getting a Kawhi level player only happens through trade for the Raps, so Ujiri did what he needed to do.
Derozan, Lowry and Casey need to look in the mirror and say to themselves that as much as they may not like what’s happened, it was necessary. They have failed to live up to expectations for multiple post seasons now, and we all know the definition of insanity.
If someone wants to pay me 24M a year they could trade me all they want