Derozan interview on ESPN, Tues 10pm EST (TONIGHT!)

[RonaldArtest]

FFS...stfu already DeMar, you bitter little baby.

All these idiots on the GB claim there is no bias against the Raptors...

Tell me when ESPN went out and got an interview with a recently traded player and made it a segment, I'll wait...

Both Isaiah and Blake were MUCH worse than this yet both get swept under the rug like they were no big deal. DeMar gets a max contract and 2 years to prove himself but ESPN just can't seem to wait to jump on anything to rub our franchise's face in the mud (like that's anything new ie/ LeBronto).

Seriously f*ck American media n it's about to be f*ck DeMar for running down our franchise. For crying out loud IT was looking to re-sign with BOS, meanwhile this b*tch is out here bad mouthing us to anybody that will listen.

FOH CLOWN

If you could recap how he's bad-mouthing the franchise from that interview it would be great. Sounded to me like his only qualm was with by being misled by 1 guy, even saying things like he understands the business side of the game and if he was in serious trade talks, to just let him know what's happening (or has decent potential to happen). But maybe I missed the part where he criticized the franchise, fans or the city in general.

[XxIronChainzxX]

Chris haynes definitely going to stir the spot snake ass mofo

I **** hate this guy man.

Why couldn't DeMar do a sit down with Doug Smith smh

Because DeMar wanted to stir ****. I don't see why he's getting a pass on this one.

[XxIronChainzxX]

Derozan felt disrespected.......and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of you need to figure out how to not get so bent out of shape about it & learn to be a little more understanding.

He'll learn some lessons from this. Its his first time moving organizations.....

There's nothing wrong with "feeling" disrespected. But when it isn't true, and when you're throwing mud publicly at every opportunity on the franchise that gave you more chances than you deserved, after multiple years of public humiliation thanks to your play, there is a lot wrong with going on air to say you felt disrespected.

[vaff87]

I also don't think I've ever seen an interview like this in professional sports. Ripping your former organization of 10 years in a televised media interview just because the GM didn't give you a "heads up" that you might be traded (despite all of the major rumours over the week previous that it would be a possibility) is completely ridiculous. Now it's totally understandable being upset about it, but it's time to be a professional. This is the opposite of how he should have reacted publicly and it is making all parties look bad.

Lots of players are pissed when they get traded. The difference here is that Demar is being given this platform in order to take shots at a team that ESPN has no benefit in liking, and he is being incredibly petty and small about it and actually using the platform to rip his former team, when any player with half a brain would realize this is unprofessional. He knows that the team cannot respond in kind and he'll get away with a one sided attack on the team and gain more of the sympathy among casuals. ESPN is all too happy to stir up the drama, though, since as a US-only station and aren't allowed to broadcast here. It's their pettiness against the lone non-American franchise that is helping inflate this story beyond what they would do if say, Kevin Love was traded from Minnesota, or James Harden was traded to Houston. Oh wait - both those things happened and neither player did what Demar is doing.

We're not one of the beloved historical franchises, so it's ok to shame us for thinking we could actually be better. We're supposed to just accept whatever players we get and be happy with it - don't try to actually be great, or take a player they would prefer to see in one of the legacy markets.

Eat ****, ESPN.

There's no doubt that there's a lot of that going on here. I'm always reminded of when the Jays traded for Reyes, Josh Johnson and Buehrle from the Marlins for a bunch of prospects in 2012 and the American media went crazy about the deal (which forced Selig to make an odd public statement that he would review it). Deals of that kind are made quite often in baseball (and made quite often with that particular team, see Giancarlo Stanton's acquisition by the New York Yankees last winter with none of the same kind of controversy). The difference, of course, is that the Jays were the one getting much better in theory and that is something that made the American media/Americans uncomfortable.

This Kawhi Leonard trade (especially the possibility that he might actually stay in Toronto long-term) is having a similar effect, it seems. The fact that the Raptors are not being considered the EC favourites by the American media is also telling to me (statistically they very much are now). If Kawhi was added to Boston or Philly in a similar kind of deal, there's no question either of those teams would be considered in that light.

Yeah, when a Canadian team makes a move to get better, there’s this vibe from the American media that “something must be wrong”.

[XxIronChainzxX]

I'm gonna laugh so hard when Lowry throws Casey and DeMar under the bus for the playoff struggles in his typical passive aggressive manner. Man's tryna escape when Dellascrub busted his ass

Lowry was more than adequate in the post-season this year. He had a TS% of .650, for one thing.

I'm well aware of that. 14 he was solid and this year he was good. We can ignore the other years in between

Even if we don't, Lowry those years shoot poorly but still contributed with making plays, passes, defense. There's more to ball than just shooting well. We're used to obsessing about it since that's just all DD gave us.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Yeah, I don't get the outrage. DeMar did deserve some transparency, and Masai had previously boasted he was upfront with his players. He made a reputation out of being straightforward. He clearly misled DeMar and it's up to Masai to smooth that over in the following days. He clearly didn't do that enough.

On the other hand, given how DeMar has reacted it's possible he would have leaked everything to try and scuttle the deal. It was a difficult situation, but ultimately DeMar has the liberty to say how he felt and Ujiri is the one with the job to do. His defense that he gave DeMar and Casey chances does fall hollow. Other teams were paying the tax, other teams were loading up at the deadline (including Cleveland). He gave them chances within his very strict parameters. And, personally I support that method, but he shouldn't have gotten defensive in the presser. This was a sorry, not sorry moment for Masai. He has work to do.

The big take away is that Chris Haynes is doing major work for the Lakers. He's from Fresno, so...

[Vlade Divac]

I think interview was OK. Two points though:

1. It's prove just how delusional he is raving about "successes" Raptors had while he was there and not understanding how his ex team just got better without him being there. He was not traded for a scrub, but for a player 10 times he is;

2. After unprecedented outpouring love of casual Raptors fans and god like obsession he got from TO media I don't think he expressed it enough and thanked them in similar fashion.

[Topher]

I laughed when he talked about calling up Rudy

[vaff87]

One thing in all of this is for certain ... Chris Haynes is a complete hack.

[XxIronChainzxX]

You didn't just lose. You lost as the favourites and you got swept when every other team took Lebron to 7.

Lose in 7 or by seven or by four a loss is a loss. Boston, the new darlings of the east, with injuries, won three more games than us woopty do. Pacers? Lance got promoted to Bron Decision. We were never a tough team. End of silly story.

This is insane. We got humiliated as a 59-win team, with home court, as the favourites in the series. DD played his worse playoff bball in that series and that is saying something because he had a lot of G-League level performances. The fact that you are willing to give DD so much credit for what so many other players achieved - including our bench mob - is that frustrates me the most about DD, that he's ridden the coattails of a lot of players to accolades and respect and shows no awareness for it.

[Lord Eder]

Pretty awkward interview with clear intentions to stir the pot.

Not sure why I expected different though.

His reaction to the initial Masai question shows me that his frustrations and anger are still misplaced. He goes to call Masai’s recollections of the events “B.S.” then immediately gives his story which basically confirms what Masai said.

He’s also making it sound like he’s a victim who wasn’t treated right because he got blindsided by this trade. 9 years the benefits were mutual. The trying to spin his free agency as taking a pay cut was very cringe worthy. He was never asked to take less money and it was still played out to be DeMar doing the right thing for the organization, despite signing for $26 mil more than what was out there on the market.

I get it though, he’s stung from this. I wanna say he’ll come around but he’s also the type who will use this as motivation so all the best to him and I hope it works for him in San Antonio.

I’m glad he’s had nothing but good to say about the fans, the city and the organization. Wish he would just keep his gripe with Masai private and behind closed doors. Use that motivation internally. That’s what true low maintenance people do. There’s no good to come in slandering our front office in a time like this. It’s very “scorched earth” like.

[XxIronChainzxX]

DeMar is burning bridges for no reason. It's now been a whole week; this interview comes off as immature and unprofessional considering the circumstances.

And at anyone who thinks it would all be fine if Masai had just "told him!!" DeMar is obviously an emotional dude and Masai KNOWS this. There's no way he reacts to the possibility of being traded (which was extremely low at the time) like a mature and rational adult.

Telling DD the truth would have been a disaster: It would involve DD confronting the fact that he is not and cannot be a top NBA player, that Masai has no real confidence in him getting to that level, and it would be the exact same IG post. DD isn't insulted that Masai didn't tell him. He's insulted that Masai was willing to and did trad him.

[Double Helix]

What Chris Hayes didn’t say...

Many of us here at ESPN said you guys were stuck. Many of us here at ESPN had you rated 36 in our player rankings. Many of us here at ESPN called that series Lebronto and made fun of you all and said change was needed. Many of us here at ESPN ranked Kawhi Leonard 3rd in the NBA player rankings. Many of us here at ESPN graded this trade a win for Toronto. Some of us thought Toronto should have rebuilt which would have possibly sent you to a worse situation than San Antonio with prospects coming back instead of having your big trade associated with a future hall of famer.

How much do we, as the media, play a role in putting pressure on wins, on player upgrades, and on what GMs need to do to get better and is the organization I’m in that has you on camera today, which pays for and publishes the kinds of rumors that lead you to talking to your former boss in the first place, partly to blame for this culture that drives managers to keep things secret and try to win by any means necessary to ensure they aren’t shown the door next?

[vaff87]

ESPN isn’t lining up to get Kawhi to trash the Spurs smh.

[mcHAPPY]

Anyone else find him to come off as entitled?

Anyone else find his talk of loyalty to ring hallow when he talks about the sacrifice of playing here?

Anyone else find him to backtrack on the lies narrative?

Anyone else find him to still lack any accountability for his play?


I'm glad DeMar is gone more than ever (and I was really glad before).

You're not owed anything except the terms of your contract, DeMar.

It is not a sacrifice to play for Toronto - it is an honour. Toronto gave you the opportunity no other franchise would have afforded to become the player you are and make the money you did. Y

By all accounts this trade came together very quickly. He was given hours notice as soon as it went down. He'd be butthurt if he was told a trade was possible and then never materialized - all that stress and worry for nothing. This is a can't win scenario.

Yes, you and Casey are gone. Yes, you two are greatly responsible. You're the star when it suits your agenda. The star has to answer for the team success....and failures! Might not be fair but you don't take the glory and give the failure to the 'team'.


At the end of the day he might say how great Toronto is but he still holds the view he was doing Toronto a favour to stay. Eff that. Good bye.

[BBallG]

In all honesty it's tough to feel bad for someone who gets 27 mil to play a game that most of us would play for free so when players use the word sacrifice it's very cringey to me. I understand that he feels misled by MU, but he needs to open his eyes and realize no GM would have told him before the deal was finalized, especially when there were 3 other teams ahead of us at the time.

Demar, be happy with what you have and what you've accomplished in life. Be thankful to the organization that gave you the opportunity and the city that embraced you and move on man.... you are making us and yourself look bad with this pettiness.

[Big Mac Biyombo]

What Chris Hayes didn’t say...

Many of us here at ESPN said you guys were stuck. Many of us here at ESPN had you rated 36 in our player rankings. Many of us here at ESPN called that series Lebronto and made fun of you all and said change was needed. Many of us here at ESPN ranked Kawhi Leonard 3rd in the NBA player rankings. Many of us here at ESPN graded this trade a win for Toronto. Some of us thought Toronto should have rebuilt which would have possibly sent you to a worse situation than San Antonio with prospects coming back instead of having your big trade associated with a future hall of famer.

How much do we, as the media, play a role in putting pressure on wins, on player upgrades, and on what GMs need to do to get better and is the organization I’m in that has you on camera today, which pays for and publishes the kinds of rumors that lead you to talking to your former boss in the first place, partly to blame for this culture that drives managers to keep things secret and try to win by any means necessary to ensure they aren’t shown the door next?

Well said. The same guys who have spent the last 5 years trashing DeMar for "choking" every year are now trashing Masai for trading him for a better player.

This is just more proof that the majority of the American media will never have respect for this franchise. They just create new reasons to disrespect this team.

Don't be surprised when they inevitably pick us to finish 3rd or 4th in the East even though we finished 1st last year and clearly upgraded the roster.

[Spragga]

I’m glad they traded him. His sense of entitlement just because he’s been here 9 years shows why he needed to go. He got too comfortable. In the end this is masais fault for letting this go on for so long.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Double Helix]

I’m not going to put too much into his use of the word sacrifice or try to spin it. We all know Derozan ain’t no wordsmith.

I truly suspect he uses sacrifice more to mean that he left it all out on the court and worked hard and gave summers and long hours to become better and make the team better and due to time spent doing that and staying patient during some of the low times... he wishes he had been given more transparency.

We need to remember that he’s seen some of his friends more involved in the trade talk process than he was. Lowry knew he was headed to New York for a time. It sounded like Carroll and reps were involved with talks. Rudy may have been as well.

This was a unique situation involving a top 6 NBA player though and we weren’t the ones with leverage or the ones who had been asked to move our guy. If things had fallen through Derozan would have been pissed and as Ujiri said... the Raptors were at one point told they had put forth the 4th best offer. Something Haynes conveniently omitted.

[MavCarter]

Chris haynes was trying so hard to get DD to completely trash MU/the organization. What a **** btch