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The sales pitch normally comes before the deal, but Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri does the wrong thing with Kawhi Leonard
Ujiri spoke to the media for the first time after Wednesday's big hit that sent DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Leonard, NBA finals player 2014
According to several sources, Leonard is reluctant to come to Toronto, preferring to travel to the Clippers or Lakers in his hometown of Los Angeles
. No problem to report to the Raptors, he has a player option for the 2019-2020 season and could become an unrestricted free agent after only one season in Toronto
Anyway, it's up to Ujiri to sell to Leonard Benefits of Living North of the Border
"I think there is a lot to sell here," 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 Spurs also sent Danny Green to the Raptors, who dispatched Jakob Poeltl and a protected first-round pick from 2019 to San Antonio.
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 or not he's going to play the game. there was a disconnect between him and the team was answered earlier this season when he requested an exchange.
Kawhi, with his agent, with his uncle, and everything went well I can not wait to meet them face to face, "said Ujiri on The Raptors' training ground 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 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 problems occurred. found in the media and Leonard held the president and Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich responsible for the leaks.
Kawhi Leonard, left, has a statistical advantage over DeMar DeRozan, right, in most categories (19659010) Leonard takes the physical
Ujiri said Friday that Leonard had not still had physics with Raptors doctors but that he would be in Toronto in the next few days. for Before answering questions at the press conference, Ujiri spoke directly to DeRozan, apologizing for a "lack of communication" which led DeRozan to believe that it would not be traded in Toronto . 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 of 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. and seed # 1 in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season.
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