DeMar DeRozan didn’t pull any punches when addressing his trade from the Raptors for the first time on Tuesday night.
DeRozan claimed he was kept in the dark while the trade was being discussed, something he took as a sign of disrespect.
“I felt like I wasn’t treated with what I sacrificed for nine years, with the respect that I thought I deserved.” DeRozan told ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
“By just giving me the say-so of letting me know something’s going on, or 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. That’s all I ask.”
Earlier this week Raptors president Masai Ujiri said it was simply a matter of miscommunication, but that explanation didn’t sit well with DeRozan.
“I gave everything I had to that team,” he told ESPN.
“Every single day and night, whatever was asked from me to make us better.
“And it showed…So when (Ujiri) put that out there saying ‘gave them chances’ and ‘I have to do something’… it’s B.S. to me.”
DeRozan was particularly upset when the news first broke, writing on Instagram: “Be told one thing and the outcome another. Can’t trust em. Ain’t no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quick for a little bit of nothing.”
He has since shared a heartfelt post honouring Toronto.
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