DeMar DeRozan clearly feels betrayed by the Toronto Raptors organization after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs earlier this week, despite reportedly being told by Toronto brass in Las Vegas during summer league that he would not be traded.
DeRozan expressed his frustration on instagram shortly after the trade was announced, writing, "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..."
Today, Raptors president Masai Ujiri opened up his press conference with a thank you and an apology to the 28-year old All-Star and his family for any miscommunication.
"I had a conversation with DeMar at summer league and I really want to leave it at that," Ujiri said Friday, per ESPN. "We spoke ... I think maybe my mistake was talking about what we expected going forward from him. So, not necessarily talking about a trade but what I expect from him going forward, and I think that's where the gap was."
Ujiri added Friday: "In my job, I always have to assume we're going forward with the team that I have. If there was a miscommunication there, I do apologize to DeMar and his family and his representation. It's not what I meant."
Ujiri went on to explain why he couldn't pass up the opportunity to acquire Kawhi Leonard. "When you have a chance to get a top-five player, which doesn't come very often, I think you have to jump on it," he said.