Fansided

DeMar DeRozan continues his search for sympathy

By Brad Berreman

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors walks off the court during the first half against the Washington Wizards during Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors walks off the court during the first half against the Washington Wizards during Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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DeMar DeRozan feels like he was blatantly lied to by Raptors president Masai Ujiri, but does his quest for sympathy rings hollow?

Around this time a week ago, a trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for a package headlined by DeMar DeRozan was reported. There were immediate rumors Leonard and DeRozan both weren’t happy with being dealt, for several different reasons. While Leonard appears to be warming to the idea of playing in Toronto, DeRozan is struggling to move forward.

It’s not that he’s unhappy about playing for the Spurs rather he’s still bothered that he was traded in the first place. In DeMar’s eyes, he wasn’t told about hte trade in advance and was done dirty by an organization he’s given everything to.

Last Friday, Raptors president Masai Ujiri acknowledged a conversation with DeRozan at Summer League and a “miscommunication” regarding the four-time All-Star being traded. Ujiri apologized to DeRozan, as if that conversation qualified as a guarantee he’d be in a Raptors’ uniform long-term.

A look at DeRozan’s Instagram has shown his feelings about the trade, after choosing to stay in Toronto when he was a marquee free agent a couple years ago. All is clearly not lost, as he’s heading to San Antonio and one of the best organizations in pro sports. But DeRozan had some pointed comments about Ujiri in a conversation with ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

"I felt like I wasn’t treated – with what I sacrificed for my years, you know – with the respect that I thought I deserved,” “By just giving me the say-so of letting me know something’s going on, or that there’s a chance. That’s all I wanted.“I’m not saying you don’t have to trade me. Just let me know something’s going on, because I sacrificed everything. Just let me know, you know what I mean? That’s all I ask. Everybody know I’m the most low-maintenance person in the world. Just let me know, so that I can prepare myself for whatever my next chapter is, and I didn’t get that."

Some could see DeRozan’s classification of himself as “low-maintenance person” as not being backed up by anything he’s done over the last week. Others could point to the sacrafices DeRozan has made over the years, including never entertaining the idea of signing anywhere other than Toronto, as enough credit built up.

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Being led to believe something is one way and having it turn out another is never a good feeling. But it’s a reality of life sometimes, and DeRozan can now collect the $83.2 million he’s due over the next three years (with option in the third year) playing for a team that might finally give him the chance he never got in Toronto to take his talents all the way to an NBA Finals.

In the meantime, the debate about who is right and who is wrong will be a narrative that doesn’t evaporate anytime soon.

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