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TORONTO – The sales pitch normally comes before the deal, but the Toronto Raptors' president, Masai Ujiri, does things differently with Kawhi Leonard
Ujiri spoke to the media for the first time times after Wednesday's big success. DeMar DeRozan in San Antonio for Leonard, NBA Finals 2014 MVP. Several reports indicate that Leonard is reluctant to come to Toronto, preferring instead to go to the Clippers or Lakers in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Even though he has no problem reporting to the Raptors, he has a player option for 2019-2020 and could become an unrestricted free agent after only one season in Toronto
that it is, it is up to Ujiri to sell to Leonard the benefits of living north of the border.
"I think there is a lot," said Ujiri at the Raptors' training ground at the Scotiabank Arena. "Our team, our culture, our city, our property, we have everything here except a championship, IMHO. "
" I do not think we lack anything in this city. We have big fans, we have a good organization, we have good subscribers. I think we have a beautiful country.
The trade was finalized on Wednesday and the Spurs also sent Danny Green to the Raptors, who sent Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 protected first-round pick to San Antonio. 19659002] The trade ended a long saga about Leonard's future in San Antonio, he appeared in just nine games with the Spurs last season, and any doubt as to whether there was a gap between he and the team was answered earlier this season. when he asked for an exchange.
"I had conversations with Kawhi, with his agent, with his uncle, and everything went well … I can not wait to meet them face to face," Ujiri said. on the training ground of the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena. "It's our responsibility, to understand them and make them as comfortable as possible."
Much of Leonard's discontent in San Antonio centered the way the Spurs handled the problems with his right quadriceps. The team allowed him to play at the end of February, but he received a second opinion from his own doctor and refused to Dress for San Antonio, even after his teammates asked him to At a meeting reserved for players last March, these issues ended up in the media and Leonard held the president and l 39; Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, leak manager
Ujiri said he sold reiterated that Leonard had no physics yet. The rapacious doctors but that he would be in Toronto in the next few days for testing.
Before answering questions at the press conference, Ujiri spoke directly to DeRozan, apologizing for a "lack of communication" that led DeR. ozan to believe that he would not be traded from Toronto.
DeRozan had categorically said in the past that he wanted to finish his career with the Raptors. The Guardian expressed dissatisfaction with the trade on his Instagram account as the news broke Wednesday, suggesting that Toronto's management was unfair.
"I had a conversation with DeMar at the summer league," Ujiri said. time, the Raptors were considered a long shot to land Leonard in a trade. "I think my mistake may have been to talk about what we expected from him.
" If there was a communication problem, I apologize to DeMar, his family and its representation. This is not what I meant.
DeRozan was Toronto's top scorer in each of the last five seasons and helped the team to a 59-23 record. The Raptors also announced Friday that they have hired goalkeeper Lorenzo Brown and Canadian striker Chris Boucher.
The six-foot-five Brown has scored a brace. contract with the Raptors last July, Toronto signed for the remainder of the 2017-2018 season after being named most valuable player in the developmental league G.
Boucher, a six-foot-ten-inch forward and 200 pounds from Montreal, played for the Raptors at Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 20.8 minutes in four games.
Boucher spent last season with the Golden State Warriors after signing a bilateral contract with the club He appeared in a game with the W arrives and averaged 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 22.2 minutes in 20 games for their NBA G. League affiliate
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