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

[OAKLEY_2]

Tired of the DeRozan self entitlement BS.. we should’ve traded him after the Wizards playoff loss..he should just be thankful how the organization helped build him up to where he is at this point and rewarded him with the $130 million dollar contract instead of sulking on how the organization screwed him over. 1st world problems

This board is full of chest pumping types who act like they were wronged by arguably our best player of the last 5 years. You don't like him. His game. Move on. Enough. Show some respect for commitment and ability. What he did on and off the court.

[Chandan]

I mean if you really want to thank the city thank the fans thank the country you would want them to continue to win right? Seems like he's all too eager to drag the management through the mud and create an environment where other players don't want to play here and existing players here feel discord with front office. What a great way to show appreciation to the fans I say!

Why not sacrifice some more and keep quiet and not accepting bspn interviews which doesn't take a genius to figure out they are trying to stir up more drama.

[whysoserious]

So happy DeMar is gone. His self entitlement and lack of accountability for his failures always infuriated me. Now this? This is like a high school girl getting dumped for a supermodel and he's trying to throw shade cuz he's hurt. **** off.

He gave his heart and soul to this team... lack of accountability?? Thats all you bro. Fans like you have destroyed this club. We will be **** for a decade because of these short sighted moves.

Free agents are seeing how we treat those that give us their all. We ARE TRASH. Any player/coach that gives his loyalty to this team should have their heads checked.

Khwai, do what is best for you.... the snake in the office certainly wont.

I guess no one wants to play in Boston after Ainge was a snake to IT and did him dirty. Same with Jerry West and snaking Blake Griffin.

Seriously, get out of your feelings and come back to reality.

[mashiach]

I love Demar and everything. But the line that made me quit on him was a couple months ago :

"Maybe they just have our number"

that was the comment that proved he was never going to be a leader. He's an all-star, a very good player, but he just can't push a team to the top.

[whysoserious]

This is how you turn a 59 win club into garbage.


The entitled fans already turned on Derozan, and they have not had one game with their new boy. Hope every single player that wanted to sign here sees this. So they can do their best to avoid this trash heap.

I'm pretty sure after reading this you aren't a fan of the Raptors and just trolling this argument. Good luck.

59 win team adds top 3 talent and MVP player but is complete garbage...lmao

[RIP Kobe]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

they don't even watch games just spit out whatever stats support their opinion.

[Truthrising]

Tired of the DeRozan self entitlement BS.. we should’ve traded him after the Wizards playoff loss..he should just be thankful how the organization helped build him up to where he is at this point and rewarded him with the $130 million dollar contract instead of sulking on how the organization screwed him over. 1st world problems

This board is full of chest pumping types who act like they were wronged by arguably our best player of the last 5 years. You don't like him. His game. Move on. Enough. Show some respect for commitment and ability. What he did on and off the court.

Maybe you should tell the chest bumping DeRozan fanboys that are complaining that Masai is a snake and that the organization is s*** to move on.

[kj_]

I just watched the entire interview. I have been a Demar supporter as a person, for how he’s represented the raptors and toronto and for what he’s brought to the basketball floor. I’ve appreciated his dedication and hard work and that he has improved his game every single year he’s been in the league. I appreciate his role in “helping” to move the team from terrible to very good. I say “helping” because he was a part of it, not the entire thing. He was a big part of it and deserves credit for that.

Now... that video made me sad for Demar.

He sees himself as the victim in this and fails to see any other point of view. His big issue with Masai was that didn’t give him any indication he might be involved in a trade and that’s the part he has a problem with.

Well Demar, everyone that’s been following this team even a little bit has been well aware “no player is untouchable” ... you are a part of that. That was your heads up. Also, every Kawhi trade rumour involving the raptors included your name ... there’s another heads up.

Your public campaign (this interview, Instagram posts) to play the victim and try to angle yourself as the poor innocent player who was treated badly in an attempt to paint Masai as the villain here is immature, childish and more importantly unprofessional.

This was a basketball transaction that was very foreseeable and there isn’t a good guy and a bad guy. Your treating this like a break up where the person dumped talks badly about the other publicly to get everyone on there side so they can feel better about themselves. It’s a childish way to deal with a break up. One day you will realize that the relationship you had with the raptors and Masai was mutually beneficial but also had run its course for both parties. Life will go on, so will basketball, you were not mistreated and there doesn’t always need to be a victim and a villain when personal relationships change.

Grow up Demar, it’s time.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Jstock12]

But he gifted us with getting rid of derozans presence. Thats enough for me.

This whole fiasco just proved what a loser derozan is.

This team will never smell success the likes they had when they had Derozan again.... for a decade maybe two... this will go down in history as the turning point, and you will change your alias before this new season is up, because you were part of the problem not the solution.

Dude.....

This team just got better, significantly. I would GLADLY have 1 year of being a real contender than having to re-sign DeMar to another huge max contract in 2 years when he's 31 years old. I will GLADLY have 1 year of being a top2 team than 6-7 more years of being a top10 team.

[MavCarter]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

they don't even watch games just spit out whatever stats support their opinion.

I love DD but he was one of the most frustrating players to watch when his jump shot wasn't falling im not sure this argument works

[HiMyNameIsTrey]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

they don't even watch games just spit out whatever stats support their opinion.

DeStans love to say everyone hating on Demar just looks at stats lmao. Quite the opposite actually, watching games is how you can easily tell Demar was overrated and led this team to failure every single year. And when you do look up the stats afterwards it makes it look even worse

[OAKLEY_2]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

This!

When I read some the "emo" reactionary comments about the Danforth shootings I realized a lot on here are missing some school, grey matter or a combo platter of both.

No wonder Dumb as Phuck is such a big part of navigating an electorate. The reason politicians buy attack ads is because so many just want to curb stomp react without using their frontal cortex.

[Truthrising]

I just watched the entire interview. I have been a Demar supporter as a person, for how he’s represented the raptors and toronto and for what he’s brought to the basketball floor. I’ve appreciated his dedication and hard work and that he has improved his game every single year he’s been in the league. I appreciate his role in “helping” to move the team from terrible to very good. I say “helping” because he was a part of it, not the entire thing. He was a big part of it and deserves credit for that.

Now... that video made me sad for Demar.

He sees himself as the victim in this and fails to see any other point of view. His big issue with Masai was that didn’t give him any indication he might be involved in a trade and that’s the part he has a problem with.

Well Demar, everyone that’s been following this team even a little bit has been well aware “no player is untouchable” ... you are a part of that. That was your heads up. Also, every Kawhi trade rumour involving the raptors included your name ... there’s another heads up.

Your public campaign (this interview, Instagram posts) to play the victim and try to angle yourself as the poor innocent player who was treated badly in an attempt to paint Masai as the villain here is immature, childish and more importantly unprofessional.

This was a basketball transaction that was very foreseeable and there isn’t a good guy and a bad guy. Your treating this like a break up where the person dumped talks badly about the other publicly to get everyone on there side so they can feel better about themselves. It’s a childish way to deal with a break up. One day you will realize that the relationship you had with the raptors and Masai was mutually beneficial but also had run its course for both parties. Life will go on, so will basketball, you were not mistreated and there doesn’t always need to be a victim and a villain when personal relationships change.

Grow up Demar, it’s time.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Beautiful post. This should be stickied so that all the DeRozan fanboys and casuals can comprehend the situation.

[Sherlock]

I don't know why being overpaid is Demar's fault. If someone gives you a contract worth more than your output, would you say no I won't take it? Even outside basketball, if you were in a profession where your boss gives you a salary more than your skillset, do you say "No Boss take some money back, I'm not worth that much". That overpaid contract that so many Raptor fans blame him for, is on Masai, not Demar. He has to evaluate the contracts he's giving out.

That's true, and I've been really harsh on Masai over the last two years over it.

It doesn't change the fact that derozan was compensated very generously for his work, and to make it sound like he sacrifices whatever to play here, and that he was doing us a favour of some sort is non sense.

His whole grip is he feels the team owes him for his contribution and he deserves to know Masai's plan before it materalizes, otherwise it's classified as disrespect. The bottom line is Masai didn't see it that way nor he needs to.

So he doesn't get owned to be told that he may be a trade piece? The guy attempts every summer to support the new guys in summer league and work with the young players every summer. Not every player has to do that. There are plenty of stars who just go on vacation and do jack. You spend 9 years with an organization, I think it's fair to at least know that there could be a chance to being traded.

By just giving me the say so of letting me know something's going on or it's a chance. That's all I wanted. That's all I wanted. I'm not saying, 'You don't have to trade me' or ... just let me know something is going on because I sacrificed everything. Just let me know. That's all I asked. Everybody know I'm the most low-maintenance person in the world. Just let me know, so I can prepare myself for whatever my next chapter is, and I didn't get that.

Based on this quote, all Masai had to say was "Hey you are our franchise player but there is a chance you could be traded." That's it.

Do you have a girlfriend by any chance? If you do, try this and tell the board how it goes.

"Hey babe, I know we've been together 9 years and things have been pretty good and we've been having a good time, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm still keeping my options open and if someone hotter and more fun comes along, I might dump you and hook up with her instead. Not saying it'll happen for sure. Just that it might happen...know what I mean? And I don't want you to be surprised or nothing, so just wanted to make sure you had a heads up. But we're still cool. This is just a heads up. Just so you know. I wouldn't want you to feel disrespected or nothing."

[ruckus]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

they don't even watch games just spit out whatever stats support their opinion.

I wouldn't go that far. It's the blind hate of Demar at this point that really irks me. On the flip side, the blind hate of Masai is a headscratcher as well. The problem is this hot take culture where everyone has to pick a side and defend their point until everyone is exhausted from all the crappy rhetoric being thrown around.

At the end of the day, it's a good trade for all parties involved. The Spurs got what they want. The Raptors got what they wanted. Kawhi and Demar didn't really get what they wanted but I think when the dust settles, they'll see that they got what they needed.

[OAKLEY_2]

Tired of the DeRozan self entitlement BS.. we should’ve traded him after the Wizards playoff loss..he should just be thankful how the organization helped build him up to where he is at this point and rewarded him with the $130 million dollar contract instead of sulking on how the organization screwed him over. 1st world problems

This board is full of chest pumping types who act like they were wronged by arguably our best player of the last 5 years. You don't like him. His game. Move on. Enough. Show some respect for commitment and ability. What he did on and off the court.

Maybe you should tell the chest bumping DeRozan fanboys that are complaining that Masai is a snake and that the organization is s*** to move on.

I do not think Masai is a snake because business is business. I think Demar is just a person who wears his heart on his sleeve. Is what it is and fans need to remember that for managers and players this is a business. For fans it is fun and games with high ticket prices.

[XxIronChainzxX]

Did the people that are trashing DeMar actually watch the video? Apart from the couple of soundbites, he wasn't overly negative/critical and every time he talked about Toronto, Canada, or the Raptors, his voice choked up a little. How can you watch/listen to that interview and be mad at the guy?

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

It comes down entirely to how you view DeMar. I think he's someone who profited from the fact that this franchise was desperate to market him as a star and his profile and reputation comes entirely from that decision. It is not earned with his play. And so while DeMar does deserve our credit and respect for repping the city, his views on what he was entitled to get ring hollow. Should a role player get a heads up he might be traded? How you think about that question is how you should treat DeMar.

[OAKLEY_2]

I'm convinced most people on this board don't watch the videos and don't read the articles. They're all a bunch of Stephen A Smith/Skip Bayless hot take wannabes.

Most franchises would be lucky to have a player that repped the city and franchise as hard as Demar did for Toronto. Hell, he's still wearing his Raptors hat!

they don't even watch games just spit out whatever stats support their opinion.

I wouldn't go that far. It's the blind hate of Demar at this point that really irks me. On the flip side, the blind hate of Masai is a headscratcher as well. The problem is this hot take culture where everyone has to pick a side and defend their point until everyone is exhausted from all the crappy rhetoric being thrown around.

At the end of the day, it's a good trade for all parties involved. The Spurs got what they want. The Raptors got what they wanted. Kawhi and Demar didn't really get what they wanted but I think when the dust settles, they'll see that they got what they needed.

Yes "hot take" culture is hot head culture. Calm down. This ain't wrestling.

[Lateral Quicks]

So happy DeMar is gone. His self entitlement and lack of accountability for his failures always infuriated me. Now this? This is like a high school girl getting dumped for a supermodel and he's trying to throw shade cuz he's hurt. **** off.

He gave his heart and soul to this team... lack of accountability?? Thats all you bro. Fans like you have destroyed this club. We will be **** for a decade because of these short sighted moves.

Free agents are seeing how we treat those that give us their all. We ARE TRASH. Any player/coach that gives his loyalty to this team should have their heads checked.

Khwai, do what is best for you.... the snake in the office certainly wont.

Spare us the histrionics. We gave Casey another three years after the Washington playoff loss debacle, when most other teams would have fired him on the spot. We gave DD well above market value on all his contracts, and a greater role than he ever deserved (I would still argue he would have been developed as a 6th man on just about any other team). As for giving his "heart and soul", he clearly liked it here. Great. But his play didn't remotely live up to his contract when it mattered most - in the playoffs - and it was time for him to go. The Raptors showed incredible loyalty by giving Casey and DD so many kicks at the can.

[Lord_Zedd]

This is how you turn a 59 win club into garbage.


The entitled fans already turned on Derozan, and they have not had one game with their new boy. Hope every single player that wanted to sign here sees this. So they can do their best to avoid this trash heap.

Please tell me you'll be here cheering for the Raptors in the inevitable rebuild.

It would be very self-entitlement of you to suddenly pack your bags and hop off the bandwagon during the rebuild.

Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you here posting and cheering for the name in front of the jersey for many many years.