San Antonio Spurs: DeMar DeRozan ready to ‘move on’ after trade hysteria
By Rob Wolkenbrod
DeMar DeRozan is ready to move forward with the San Antonio Spurs after a week of trade hysteria and the words with Masai Ujiri.
The past week proved eventful for DeMar DeRozan, who went from the Toronto Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-player trade. It included a public spatter with Raptors President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri, with a public apology from one side and critical words from the other.
At some point, the back and forth would end, and it seems DeRozan wants to move on from the hysteria that surrounded his move to the Spurs. According to Tom Orsborn of MySanAntonio.com, he made it simple:
“I just want to move on and begin something new,” DeRozan said.
That’s after his ESPN interview with Chris Haynes, which put everything from the last week on the table. It featured positive comments towards the Spurs and more criticism towards Toronto’s handling of the trade.
Orsborn also noted that DeRozan praised the organization, including their credibility, and how he’s excited for what’s ahead:
“It means a lot,” DeRozan said of him donning the silver & black. “Their credibility, everything stands for itself. (The Spurs have) always been A-1 from the outside looking in, and now being on the inside and getting a feel for it, it will definitely be something to look forward to.”
DeRozan summed everything up as a “rough week,” and no longer wants to live in the past. That starts now, with the two-day Team USA Basketball mini-camp that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will oversee.
In fact, DeRozan and Popovich already went face-to-face. They even worked together on the court, in a clip that should excite Spurs fans:
DeMar DeRozan getting some 1-on-1 time with his new coach Gregg Popovich. #Spurs pic.twitter.com/lzdbbCMll2
— John Elizondo (@johndelizondo) July 26, 2018
A positive coincidence for both sides, since this mini-camp was set up in advance. It allows DeRozan to work with Popovich two months before training camp begins, with the preseason days afterward.
Thursday went better for DeRozan than someone like John Wall, who suffered the wrath of Twitter when the Washington Wizards posted an interesting photo of him.
Because I'm a very serious jorunalist I asked John Wall about the trending picture. He said he hasn't been on twitter today but saw the photo earlier.
'I sent it to my mom and said it looks like I just got to jail.'
— Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) July 26, 2018
As long as that does not happen, everything should be fine in Las Vegas. Kawhi Leonard did not show up, so that probably helped take possible attention away.