The Spurs and Raptors have agreed in principle to a deal that will swap Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Haynes, and DeRozan appears to be quite upset about it.
DeMar DeRozan seems upset about Raptors trade for Kawhi Leonard on Instagram
“Be told one thing & the outcome another. Cant trust ‘em.”
The 9-year Raptor who’d been with the team since his draft day in 2009 recently deleted all of his picture from Instagram, and early Wednesday morning he posted a series of three messages to apparently voice his displeasure.
DeRozan on Instagram: Be told one thing & the outcome another. Can’t trust em. Ain’t no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quick for a little bit of nothing... Soon you’ll understand ... Don’t disturb.
According to Wojnarowski and Haynes, none of the big three stars involved in the trade are okay with the move. Aside from DeRozan’s Instagram posts, Kyle Lowry is reportedly “not showing enthusiasm for the deal,” and Leonard has “no desire to play in Toronto.”
DeRozan was reportedly told during Summer League in Las Vegas by the Raptors’ brass that he wouldn’t be traded. That’s why this probably stings a whole lot more to him.
That’s a concern on both sides, as teams are risking a toxic locker room. Though DeRozan is locked in for the next two years under contract, Leonard could walk next summer.
The nature of this deal shows what we’ve already known to be true: The NBA is a business, and for the most part, teams will do what’s best for themselves.
That’s why we’re seeing a beloved franchise cornerstone like DeRozan moved for another star that has no interest in being there.
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