Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri apologized to DeMar DeRozan in his first public remarks since pulling off the NBA blockbuster trade for Kawhi Leonard this week.DeRozan was reportedly upset after the trade, with reports suggesting Toronto brass may have told him he was not going to be dealt during a meeting at Summer League in Las Vegas.“I want to apologize to DeMar DeRozan for a gap of miscommunication, but also to acknowledge him, and what he’s done here with the Raptors, for this city, for this country,” Ujiri said at a news conference Friday at Scotiabank Arena.“I had a conversation with DeMar at Summer League, and I want to leave it at that. We spoke. I think maybe my mistake was talking about what we expected going forward from him, not necessarily about the trade,” Ujiri added, when asked about a possible misunderstanding.He later elaborated that at the time of the conversation at Summer League, the Raptors were fourth in line to land Leonard and told DeRozan and his agent that nothing was imminent.READ MORE:Opinion | Why did DeRozan trade sting so much?Green was collateral damage in blockbusterUjiri hadn’t spoken publicly since obtaining Leonard and Danny Green for DeRozan, Jakob Poetl and a protected first-round pick in an NBA blockbuster deal earlier this week. “The human part of this business is what I’m about,” Ujiri said. “The other part, is just tough for me. I’m not here to cry, I don’t want anyone’s pity because it’s not me. At the end of the day, sports, you want to win. When healthy, Leonard is considered one of the five best players in the league and has twice won the defensive player of the year award. DeRozan had spent his entire nine-year NBA career so far with the Raptors and is a four-time all-star. The 28-year-old fan favourite wanted to play his entire career in Toronto and twice eschewed any serious look at free agency to remain here. He leads almo ...
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