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

[mashiach]

The first star player to love this city to this extent and we traded him away for a possible rental.

Loser's mentality. You prefer treadmill over winning.

I support the trade but I don't support acting like DeMar can just shake this off like he got relocated from Scarborough to Markham.

It was a very tough trade, but that's what sports are about. You make blockbuster trades to help make your team better, it happens all the time. The Raptors raised him like a kid and he felt an attachment which is very understandable, but at the same time his immaturity is making him say false claims to the media about how we straight up lied etc. He changed from lied to misled now that he calmed down. He needs to control his emotions and act like a professional because that's the business he chose. Oh and he's getting 30 mil a year.

[teamLeiweke]

I would just like to reiterate that I love DeMar DeRozan and especially since he is in the West I hope he absolutely kills it next year and the Spurs are contending in the West. Thanks again for everything you did in my city and on the Raptors. #ProveEm

[Morris_Shatford]

DD: I mean, when you say "them," that's kind of frustrating. Like, who is "them"? You put the blame on just me and Casey? Because obviously we are the only two who had to suffer from the loss that we had in the Cleveland series. But it's only one team that we lost to in the postseason -- and that team went to the [NBA] Finals every single year. With an opportunity approaching itself, my mindset and the rest of my teammates' mindset was the only guy who was in the way of making that happen leaves. Now we got a great opportunity to do something that we haven't been able to do. At the end of the day, I gave everything I had to that team. And it showed, it showed in the progress we made as a team and me as an individual. So when you put that out there saying "gave them chances" and "I have to do something" ... it's B.S. to me.

Wow

[mashiach]

DD: I mean, when you say "them," that's kind of frustrating. Like, who is "them"? You put the blame on just me and Casey? Because obviously we are the only two who had to suffer from the loss that we had in the Cleveland series. But it's only one team that we lost to in the postseason -- and that team went to the [NBA] Finals every single year. With an opportunity approaching itself, my mindset and the rest of my teammates' mindset was the only guy who was in the way of making that happen leaves. Now we got a great opportunity to do something that we haven't been able to do. At the end of the day, I gave everything I had to that team. And it showed, it showed in the progress we made as a team and me as an individual. So when you put that out there saying "gave them chances" and "I have to do something" ... it's B.S. to me.

Wow

I never knew that having your franchise player saying 'Yay LeBron is gone let's go for it finally!' means you deserve another chance. That just says it all. He should be ashamed of even saying that.

[Pooh_Jeter]

If his defensive effort was him giving everything he had to the team he is going to absolutely crash and burn under Pop.

[Morris_Shatford]

DD: I mean, when you say "them," that's kind of frustrating. Like, who is "them"? You put the blame on just me and Casey? Because obviously we are the only two who had to suffer from the loss that we had in the Cleveland series. But it's only one team that we lost to in the postseason -- and that team went to the [NBA] Finals every single year. With an opportunity approaching itself, my mindset and the rest of my teammates' mindset was the only guy who was in the way of making that happen leaves. Now we got a great opportunity to do something that we haven't been able to do. At the end of the day, I gave everything I had to that team. And it showed, it showed in the progress we made as a team and me as an individual. So when you put that out there saying "gave them chances" and "I have to do something" ... it's B.S. to me.

Wow

I never knew that having your franchise player saying 'Yay LeBron is gone let's go for it finally!' means you deserve another chance. That just says it all. He should be ashamed of even saying that.

We lost to the Nets in Seven, Lost to the Wiz in Four, Beat the Pacers in SEVEN (Thanks to Biz and Val), Beat the Heat in SEVEN, Lost to the Cavs in Six (Our greatest feat in this five year run) Beat the Bucks in SIX, Lost to the Cavs in Four, Beat the Wiz in SIX, and lost to the Cavs in Four.

It wasn't a LeBron problem, it was a playoff problem.
We couldn't dispatch of lesser teams the way elite teams should be able to.

Whatever its chalked up to, when the playoffs rolled around we simply couldn't translate our success over and that falls on the player who should be leading this team.

[MavCarter]

Read on Twitter

[Latrell]

Wow

I never knew that having your franchise player saying 'Yay LeBron is gone let's go for it finally!' means you deserve another chance. That just says it all. He should be ashamed of even saying that.

We lost to the Nets in Seven, Lost to the Wiz in Four, Beat the Pacers in SEVEN (Thanks to Biz and Val), Beat the Heat in SEVEN, Lost to the Cavs in Six (Our greatest feat in this five year run) Beat the Bucks in SIX, Lost to the Cavs in Four, Beat the Wiz in SIX, and lost to the Cavs in Four.

It wasn't a LeBron problem, it was a playoff problem.
We couldn't dispatch of lesser teams the way elite teams should be able to.

Whatever its chalked up to, when the playoffs rolled around we simply couldn't translate our success over and that falls on the player who should be leading this team.

It’s because the team was not elite .
Having a high seed doesn’t always mean you are elite and this true about other teams too not just the raptors .

The Pacers , Bucks , Heat , Nets and Wizards were pretty close in talent level . This was very apparent this year in our 1 v 8 vs WSH.

[Jcity08]

Read on Twitter

Damn... well thats a shame I guess.

[Boogie!]

Wow

I never knew that having your franchise player saying 'Yay LeBron is gone let's go for it finally!' means you deserve another chance. That just says it all. He should be ashamed of even saying that.

We lost to the Nets in Seven, Lost to the Wiz in Four, Beat the Pacers in SEVEN (Thanks to Biz and Val), Beat the Heat in SEVEN, Lost to the Cavs in Six (Our greatest feat in this five year run) Beat the Bucks in SIX, Lost to the Cavs in Four, Beat the Wiz in SIX, and lost to the Cavs in Four.

It wasn't a LeBron problem, it was a playoff problem.
We couldn't dispatch of lesser teams the way elite teams should be able to.

Whatever its chalked up to, when the playoffs rolled around we simply couldn't translate our success over and that falls on the player who should be leading this team.

Derozan's take on the whole situation is coming across as super petty.... Honestly i dont think he's ever been the brightest guy and I think he just has a really difficult time putting everythibg into perspective...

Most professionals would be able to accept the responsibility for their failures... Both him and Casey on their way out both acted in such a way that imo tarnishes their reputation of being good professionals.

What did they honestly expect? That thyy could keep getting swept year after year with no consequences, with everyone sucking their dick and blaming everyone else? It's honestly ridiculous but the raptors tak blame in creatpong this monster. From as soon as he was drafted they be been sucking him off as the future of the franchise with no consequences with no accountability t he y rotated every role player around him to try to get better and for him to a t like he should be the only guy on thr tram to Not get the blame is arrogant.

Even the way he phrases the comment "so it's just me and Casey" just reeks of someone that cannot comprehend the situation properly. What would make him feel better if Masai traded every single player away? Would that make more sense to him?

[RaptorsLife]

Oakley real af

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

he is so cheesed lol

he'll get it over it

[Morris_Shatford]

I never knew that having your franchise player saying 'Yay LeBron is gone let's go for it finally!' means you deserve another chance. That just says it all. He should be ashamed of even saying that.

We lost to the Nets in Seven, Lost to the Wiz in Four, Beat the Pacers in SEVEN (Thanks to Biz and Val), Beat the Heat in SEVEN, Lost to the Cavs in Six (Our greatest feat in this five year run) Beat the Bucks in SIX, Lost to the Cavs in Four, Beat the Wiz in SIX, and lost to the Cavs in Four.

It wasn't a LeBron problem, it was a playoff problem.
We couldn't dispatch of lesser teams the way elite teams should be able to.

Whatever its chalked up to, when the playoffs rolled around we simply couldn't translate our success over and that falls on the player who should be leading this team.

It’s because the team was not elite .
Having a high seed doesn’t always mean you are elite and this true about other teams too not just the raptors .

The Pacers , Bucks , Heat , Nets and Wizards were pretty close in talent level . This was very apparent this year in our 1 v 8 vs WSH.

Its Wednesday afternoon and I am fading fast so I apologize for my lack of comprehension.
The team was not elite, I agree entirely because elite teams win when it matters.

However are you arguing that we sucked in the playoffs because the level of our competition was strong and not because we didn't play at the same level as the regular season?

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

[Raptorfan2012]

Read on Twitter

No worries, Kawhi is still available

[Michael Jordan]

ESPN is reporting that Demar went to drakes house right after he found out he was traded. Didn't know he was that tight with him ?

[sycammer]

DD: I mean, when you say "them," that's kind of frustrating. Like, who is "them"? You put the blame on just me and Casey? Because obviously we are the only two who had to suffer from the loss that we had in the Cleveland series. But it's only one team that we lost to in the postseason -- and that team went to the [NBA] Finals every single year. With an opportunity approaching itself, my mindset and the rest of my teammates' mindset was the only guy who was in the way of making that happen leaves. Now we got a great opportunity to do something that we haven't been able to do. At the end of the day, I gave everything I had to that team. And it showed, it showed in the progress we made as a team and me as an individual. So when you put that out there saying "gave them chances" and "I have to do something" ... it's B.S. to me.

Wow

The way DD is playing as if he did us a favour by resigning & now regrets it. Like on both occasions when he re-signed, its not like other teams were willing to pay the money to him like we did; heck he re-signed because of the money, but i guess thats OK for the media & for him to ignore.

It’s because of this stupid mentality (of looking to LBJ as a unbeatable force) that we didnt go beyond & explains why Demar underperformed in the playoffs (being content with making the 2nd rd). Any butt hurt raptors fans who are still against the trade need to get a reality check. If there is a pattern that many ex-raptors do, is they don’t perform as well as they did while in Toronto.

[RIP Kobe]

yeah ok dekobe10 we believe you

Don’t need to prove anything to randoms on an Internet forum. I know what I experienced and others who used to work with me experienced similar. Masai has you all fooled it’s absolutely hilarious. If I saw him on the street I wouldn’t even say hi, that’s how little respect I have for him.

Without outing yourself, would you happen to have an example?

i used to work at the airport. i met everyone, the entire raptors team, other sports teams, the list is endless. my job required me to talk to people to get information.

he just acts like he's better than you (ya you make millions and i make a fraction of that, but still). the vibe i got was arrogant. the first time i met him i thought he was just having a bad day but quickly realized that's just the way he is. i don't remember specifics about it as it was 2-3 years ago, but it was related to the raptors and it wasn't "you should trade/sign this person" or "OMG I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN", was just trying to have a casual conversation. others had a similar experience with him. i was shocked because of how much he talks about "fans" and all this other crap to the media but he just doesn't give a damn.

saw him a few more times and same thing. eventually i did the bare minimum to get the job done. i took into consideration that the airport is stressful but there's no way you can be miserable all the time, especially when i've had very positive experiences with athletes who travel more than masai.


other fun encounters:
- 2Pat hates authority so he was a pleasure to deal with /green
- rip hamilton was cool.
- rick fox during ASW was wearing the exclusive canada goose x asw jacket issued to nba players cause it was cold
- someone else was dealing with him but i went up to dominique wilkins and said "i got nothing to say but just wanna shake your hand, you're a legend" and he chuckled a bit and said "thank you". this was earlier this year, he was in toronto doing something for nba canada
- lebron = ****
- lowry was cool. told him how every time i went to a game 1 we lost, he said "you ain't going to game 1 this season then or ill be pissed" they lost anyways that year (i went, sorry )
- drake was being a dick to everyone except us. girls were asking him for pics and his body guard told them to beat it, then when we dealt with him he was super nice, shaking all our hands, cracking jokes, etc.


i can type all day, but i'm over it. enjoy for now. i can post more another time.

[Michael Jordan]

Read on Twitter

Imagine how awkward an interview would have been .

"Demar can you talk about what Masai has done for Africa?"

Demar: "Umm, you know, it's big, what he's done. He's made some big moves lately... (pause)... I respect what he's done, - with Africa. I think he gon continue to make moves and eventually he'll be able to do this full time cause he won't be in the league "

[sycammer]

Oakley real af

Read on Twitter

?s=21

“The big guy, the centre, what’s his name?,” said Oakley, referring to Jonas Valanciunas. “He played good last year, they didn’t go to him enough. Coach should have went to him a little bit more. Forget spacing the floor, if you’ve got a guy that’s 7-1 can post and do what he was doing in the playoffs, the efficiency he was doing? Keep going to him.”

From the article. Nick nurse knows what he is doing.