Former Toronto Raptors and current Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey says San Antonio Spurs shooting guard DeMar DeRozan still “has a healthy distaste” for the Raptors.
According to previous reports, Raptors president Masai Ujiri told DeRozan in Las Vegas during the summer league that he wasn’t going to trade him. However, after seeing an opportunity to get the disgruntled Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs, Ujiri and Toronto pounced and dealt DeRozan in the blockbuster trade.
DeRozan was very upset by the trade and is not backing off his claim that he was lied to. Now, his former coach, Casey, chimed in and revealed that the 29-year-old guard still harbors unpleasant feelings towards the Raptors.
And, of course, Casey added that DeRozan still "has a healthy distaste" for the Raptors.
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) October 5, 2018
When DeRozan was a free agent in the summer of 2016, the swingman didn’t even take a meeting with another team and stated he wanted to remain loyal to the Raptors and the city of Toronto. That's why DeRozan was devastated by the trade. He felt he gave everything he had to the Raptors' organization and wasn't treated with what he sacrificed for nine years.
DeRozan is a four-time All-Star and one of the best guards in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 23.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 80 regular-season games while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 31.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Casey was fired by the Raptors after the team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2018 playoffs. He was replaced by his lead assistant, Nick Nurse. Casey was reportedly upset with Nurse for taking the job and hasn't spoken with him since his departure.
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