Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has had most of the offseason to process the change of direction by the front office, as DeMar DeRozan in a Raptors uniform is no longer a reality. Yet the 7-footer won't place blame on either side, despite the new San Antonio Spurs star's claims that he was blindsided by the move after having gotten assurance from president Masai Ujiri that he would stay put.
“It's a business. You never know in the NBA,” Valanciunas told Donatas Urbonas of 15min during a visit to his native Lithuania. “Maybe now while I'm talking all the papers are set and I'm moving to Detroit. You just never know in this business. DeMar was really great, loyal player. But I think you can't blame anybody.”
While hypothetical, Raptors beat writer Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun doesn't think Valanciunas could ever land in Detroit, home of his former head coach Dwane Casey.
JV, there is zero chance you are going to Detroit. https://t.co/hMPL0ZiS2d
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) August 28, 2018
Casey and Valanciunas had an on-and-off relationship during their time in Toronto, as the center's inconsistencies were often the reason why he wouldn't finish third and fourth quarters.
While the 7-footer did much better this past season, there's likely no love lost between the two, especially considering the Pistons' stacked frontcourt of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.
Valanciunas has been in the midst of trade rumors throughout the last two seasons, so it wouldn't be surprising to find the Raptors' head honcho pulling the trigger sometime throughout the season if things don't go according to his vision.