Toronto Raptors: Ramifications of DeMar DeRozan’s last days in Toronto

The Toronto Raptors made the right basketball move on Wednesday, but they did wrong by DeMar DeRozan. They could regret that later.

DeMar DeRozan never appeared destined for NBA stardom.

Yes, he was a high pick in the NBA Draft. And yes, he plied his craft dutifully at USC before going pro. But in the eyes of his detractors, his defensive liabilities and limited shooting skills seemed destined to lead to a flameout in the NBA.

In some ways, those detractors were right: he never became a star in Toronto. He became so much more.

DeRozan became a beacon for fans looking for a homegrown player, one who would stay longer than Chris Bosh or Vince Carter. Kyle Lowry arguably grew into the better baller, but DeRozan was the heart of the Raptors.

More so, he became a beacon of hope in the community after publicizing his battle with depression and mental illness, a subject many professional athletes don’t broach.

That’s what made Wednesday’s events so shocking, so piercing to fans of the Raptors.

Toronto’s front office made a basketball move. They decided to trade for Kawhi Leonard, hoping he would be the missing piece that would get the franchise over the hump and into the NBA Finals. In a lot of ways, it was a smart gamble.

But the San Antonio Spurs wanted more than just future riches to get rid of Leonard. They wanted a star ready to step in and play now. They wanted DeRozan.

The star shooting guard didn’t know that. Just days before, the Toronto brass told him not to worry about his future, claiming they weren’t going to trade him — at least, that’s what his now-deleted Instagram Story suggested.

And then they did. They went back on their word, all a person truly has.

DeRozan’s emotions and feelings of betrayal were palpable on Instagram. He deleted most of his photos and posted cryptic messages expressing anger and frustration at the only NBA organization he has ever known.

He wasn’t the only one to lash out. Just take a look at a quick sampling of reactions from around the league to the trade:

The NBA is a business, first and foremost. Nobody is going to deny that. Yet there’s a way to treat players, coaches and staff members, especially ones that have shaped the identity of the franchise.

Instead of promising that DeRozan wouldn’t be dealt, the front office should’ve been honest and shared what all front offices in all sports know: Everyone is available for the right price. DeRozan may have been miffed in the moment, but he wouldn’t feel as betrayed as he does now.

The short-term justification in the trade for Kawhi Leonard is perfectly reasonable. Toronto sees a void in the conference left by the departure of LeBron James. It sees an opportunity to fill that void and get over a hump that’s been bogging them down in the playoffs for too long.

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However, the long-term consequences in the treatment of DeMar DeRozan could lead to free agents balking to play for a blatantly disrespectful regime.