I Am Toronto: Video, quotes, and more from DeRozan and Sullinger pressers | Raptors Republic
DeRozan’s presser was more emotional – understandably. Masai, in a heartfelt statement, spoke very highly about DeRozan’s dignity and development as a player over the course of his career. The fact that DeMar only held a meeting with Toronto and no one else was brought up as a specific example from Masai, who also noted that he met with DeMar at 9pm last night in his LA home – it was a deal which was done within 15 minutes.
Masai also pointed to DeMar’s family, calling them the Raptors’ own, and the general tone of the presser was that of high amicability between the two parties.
DeMar’s desire to leave behind a one-team legacy is genuine. He sees himself more alike to his predecessors Kobe Bryan and Tim Duncan, who came and left their NBA mark with one franchise – etching their names in the city forever. When asked when he knew he’d always play in Toronto, DeRozan said it was the day he was drafted back in ’09.
Raptors Press Conference: DeMar DeRozan – July 14, 2016 – YouTube
DeMar DeRozan – July 14, 2016 – YouTube
Raptors Republic on Instagram: “”I am Toronto” – DeMar DeRozan #wethenorth”
Staying in the Six: Raptors sign DeRozan to multi-year contract | Toronto Sun
“I learned loyalty the hard way growing up, so it means a great deal to me, especially now,” DeRozan said. “The way I approach everything in life, loyalty is always the No. 1 factor for me.”
The Raptors were able to offer him an extra year and more money than any other suitor, but didn’t quite pay him the max. That wasn’t a necessity for DeRozan. Being home where he was comfortable and had put in so much over the years was.
Speaking to a handful of reporters in Las Vegas, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey was thrilled to have DeRozan remain in the fold.
“Huge, loyalty. He’s our own guy, has helped us win, produce, he’s been a big part of our program,” Casey said, before adding he, like DeRozan himself, is expecting more out of the two-time all-star.
“I still say this, DeMar is still a growing player, he still has another level to go to. Get his three-point shot in, continue to be consistent defensively, those are two areas where he can take that next step. He’s a great leader, you all know his offensive game, his mid-range game. I’m happy for DeMar and his family that he can be rewarded for having us take steps forward toward being a championship (contending) program.”
Raptors Press Conference: Jared Sullinger – July 14, 2016 – YouTube
DeRozan extension proves continuity at the heart of Raptors’ off-season | Sportsnet.ca
The Raptors would have almost surely taken a step back should DeRozan have opted to sign elsewhere. Fortunately for them, the thought never entered his mind. “I feel like we always got the short end of the stick,” DeRozan said of his early impressions on the Raptors today, perched in front of a large crowd, dressed in a finely-tailored navy suit worthy of a man who’s annual salary just increased by a cool $15 million between the time he fell asleep last night and woke up this morning. “And I took pride in wanting to change that.”
He says he knew he wanted to play out his career in a Raptors uniform from the day he was drafted, and many lean years where the franchise looked to be stuck in the mud in the post-Chris Bosh era did nothing to dissuade him. As he put it: “I don’t run when things get tough.”
DeRozan is the type of player and person worth rewarding, and the Raptors reward for doing so will be a continuation of winning basketball. In other words: A no-brainer on all levels. Hell, even his new salary, which was difficult for many to wrap their heads around, looks pretty good compared to other massive deals handed out this summer. DeRozan is expected to make $27 million next season, which is, well, a lot, but it’s only three million more than Nic Batum, Chandler Parsons, and Harrison Barnes will make. Everything in context.
The biggest change for the Raptors— in every sense of the word— comes in the form of Sullinger, who also met with the media on Thursday and joins the Raptors on favourable terms. For one, his contract is safe— one year at a minimal cap hold, the team’s $5.6 million exception.
But more importantly, Sullinger comes to the Raptors hungrier than ever (insert joke here). Hearing him speak about how important it is for him to succeed with the Raptors this season, you get the feeling he knows he swung and missed on an opportunity to land the type of major-money contract many of his NBA counterparts signed this summer. It should only stand to benefit the Raptors, who are not only hoping that a commited Sullinger will work harder than ever to improve his conditioning— long the biggest knack against him— but also that he takes out his frustrations on the court.
Jared Sullinger – July 14, 2016 – YouTube
Staying in the Six: Raptors sign DeRozan to multi-year contract | Canoe
“There’s nobody that has done it with more class, more dignity, more passion,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said.
“I am Toronto,” DeRozan said, simply.
For a franchise that saw Vince Carter and Chris Bosh leave after their first contract extensions and Tracy McGrady bolt even before that, DeRozan’s commitment is massive.
Not only is he the captain, he goes out on recruiting missions, since winning is his priority. He helped the team land DeMarre Carroll last summer, wooed Wesley Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol, among a few others, and isn’t satisfied with making the Eastern Conference Finals one time.
And he wasn’t about to bolt for greener pastures.
“I don’t run when things get tough,” he said. “I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into this organization … I wasn’t done yet.”
DeRozan said he was advised to take meetings with other teams and go through the recruiting process for the first time since committing to USC years ago, but wasn’t interested.
“I learned loyalty the hard way growing up, so it means a great deal to me, especially now,” DeRozan said. “The way I approach everything in life, loyalty is always the No. 1 factor for me.”
Masai Ujiri – July 14, 2016 – YouTube
DeRozan’s loyalty a rarity in today’s NBA | TSN
Ask almost any pro athlete, in any team sport, what they strive for and their list will be remarkably similar: be an all-star, make the hall of fame and – usually above all else – win a championship, or championships. Of course, those goals are consistent with DeRozan’s but he has another that rarely makes the cut in this business. He wants to spend his entire career with the team that gave him his shot. He wants to be a Toronto Raptors lifer.
“It’s so rare these days,” DeRozan said. “When you look at the NBA, there are not too many guys that stick it out with one franchise through it all. For me, that’s big. You can never take that legacy away, saying this guy played for one team. I’m working my way to doing that.”
Seven of the 20 longest-tenured active NBA players that ended last season playing for their original franchise will be wearing a different jersey next fall. Like Durant and Wade, Al Horford and Joakim Noah changed addresses in free agency while Serge Ibaka, Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose were traded.
Duncan, who was at the top of that list after spending 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, has decided to call it a career. The Duncan types, Nowitzki types – he’s now No. 1 on the list after 18 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks – are a dying breed. DeRozan, 16th on that list at the start of the summer, could be as high as ninth on opening night when he tips off his eighth season with the Raptors.
In DeRozan, Toronto has locked up a very good, albeit imperfect player who, along with teammate and close pal Kyle Lowry, forms one of the top backcourt tandems in the league. The merits of his game are, and probably will always be open for debate. Few elicit the mixed bag of credit and criticism he does, even among his team’s own fan base.
I Am Toronto: DeMar DeRozan Re-Signs With Raptors | Toronto Raptors
DeMar DeRozan accomplished a life-long dream when the Toronto Raptors selected him with the ninth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Just 19 years-old, coming off a solid freshman season at USC, the Compton, California native was headed for Toronto. In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have predicted speaking into a microphone seven years later, telling everyone watching that, “I am Toronto.”
“I honestly couldn’t have imagined it,” DeRozan said. “Even when I think about it now, I didn’t have a passport until I came here and worked out. I’d never been in snow. I still was wearing Chuck Taylor’s in the wintertime. Just to look at how far I’ve come, it’s crazy.”
Toronto had become DeRozan’s home away from home long before he entered the free agency period this summer. Still, there’s always an uncertainty that accompanies free agency, the chance that a surprise can happen, a player can be swayed, a decision changed. Almost always, at least. For DeRozan, who has long stated his desire to finish his career with the team that drafted him, free agency was easy. He invited the Raptors front office into his home when the free agency negotiation period began, and 15 minutes later, he’d agreed to a five-year extension to remain with the only professional team he’s ever known.
“What a great day for us,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said. “You look at this young man here and, to me, I get emotional because there’s nobody that has done it with more class, more dignity, more passion. I spend every day with this kid here and this is a blessed day for the Raptors.
“I am so proud that Canada has the opportunity to have somebody like this in our organization. We take pride in not only giving him this contract, but also seeing what the future is for our team going forward
Watch Chase Shannon’s Vine, “VanVleet!”
Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan pays summer visit, proudly proclaims ‘I am Toronto’ | Toronto Star
“For DeMar DeRozan to have one meeting and not have any intentions (of leaving) — and, trust me, we deal with a lot of stuff in our league — this is true class,” Masai Ujiri, the team’s president and general manager said.
“Us as individuals have to look at him, the youth have to look at this kid and say this is how I want to be. I am so proud that Canada has the opportunity to have somebody like this in our organization and we take pride in not only giving him this contract but in seeing what the future is for our team.”
The loyalty aspect of DeRozan’s decision to stay can’t be under-stated because it is central to who he is as a man. Basketball minutia aside, it is an admirable trait. He is in, completely.
“Every person that’s close to me, every person that knows me, if I’m in it with you, I’m in it with you,” he said.
Watch The Cauldron’s Vine, “Bruno Caboclo hits the floater to end the 1st half”
Sullinger picked winning over money to join Raptors | Toronto Sun
“I don’t know how this one fell into our lap but it did. We’re really lucky,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri told reporters in Toronto about Sullinger, who averaged 10.3 points, a career-best 8.6 rebounds and made 73 starts for the playoff-bound Boston Celtics last year.
Sullinger was reportedly offered twice as much money from another suitor, but chose the three-time defending Atlantic Division champions, knowing the squad remains one of the best in the East.
“It was a no-brainer,” Sullinger said.
“The (other) offers were nice but at the end of the day it’s all about winning and an open opportunity … Money’s great, but money can’t buy you happiness. I think winning keeps you happy.”
Sullinger, 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds when in shape (which has been an issue), has a lot of talent, soft hands, good passing instincts and a top-notch presence on the boards, but his commitment has wandered at times as his weight ballooned.
That will need to change and, in a contract year, most likely Sullinger gets the message.
All sides should benefit from this move.
Blake Murphy on Instagram: “Contrary to most photo evidence, I do, in fact, enjoy my job.”
Jared Sullinger said lure of winning, not money, brought him to Raptors | Toronto Star
“If you look at the history, if you look at Masai’s track record, you understand those offers were nice, but at the end of the day it’s all about winning and I see an open opportunity and I also see winning,” he said.
A pairing with Jonas Valanciunas in the Raptors’ frontcourt may not be ideal in this age of jump-shooting big men, and while Sullinger thinks the two big men could do some damage on the glass, he doesn’t seem bent on becoming some jump-shooting big man.
“I’ve done it but you’ve still got to get your jump hooks off,” he said.
The Raptors acted quickly to sign Sullinger — he became a free agent Sunday and the deal was agreed to on Tuesday — but he still had time to do some homework.
“I talked to Amir (Johnson) out in Vegas and he said it’s a beautiful city — he didn’t want to leave — and he said the fans are unbelievable,” Sullinger said. “He said Toronto made him who he is today and when you hear stuff like that, especially from Amir, it means everything.”
Raptors hold on against Warriors to advance in Summer League | Raptors Republic
The way this Raptors team is playing in the tournament, allowing a late lead-changing run is ill-advised. The defense continued to lock in, and while the grind-it-out offense produced some low-quality looks, Wright helped push things in transition and Caboclo came up huge with a ridiculous block at the rim off of a backcourt turnover. That led to a Crawford triple, and the game was more or less sealed. (But not before Ognjen Kuzmic, who had a good time opposite Poeltl in this one, scored on a second-chance opportunity and the Warriors terrified the Raptors with a late backcourt steal.)
And so for the third game in a row, the Raptors faced adversity on their way to yet another victory. They’re 4-0, and they now move to the single-elimination quarterfinals, where they’ll meet the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom they’ve already beaten at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.
There’s no longer much room for error, and this Raptors team is showing they can win imperfect. Despite the cool start and injury, Powell still managed 17 points on just nine field-goal attempts. Crawford was huge with eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. Poeltl didn’t have the greatest of defensive nights but managed seven points and seven rebounds and was a robust plus-14. And Wright, who missed a few shots early at the rim, shot 3-of-10 overall, and had four turnovers, made up for a lot of that defensively and with some heady plays down the stretch.
Toronto Raptors on Instagram: “Hold it. #WeTheNorth”
Poll: Who’s impressed you most at Summer League? | Raptors Republic
This was somewhat expected, or at least hoped for. With at least five players tabbed for the NBA this season, the Raptors have more talent than most teams here, and they have a fair amount of Summer League experience. Norman Powell was First-Team All-Tournament last year and looks like he has little business playing here any longer. Bruno Caboclo is in his third Summer League. Even guys like Drew Crawford and E.J. Singler bring some nice experience to the bench.
Summer Raptors beat Warriors 75-69 | Raptors HQ
Poeltl looks to be an efficient offensive player moving forward, but at the age of 20, he still has a long way to go in terms of having an NBA body that matches the style he’s trying to play. He was having some trouble establishing deep post position, and boxing out for defensive rebounds. It was good to see him get involved in the pick and roll game with some success though.
Toronto Raptors on Instagram: “🐇 #WeTheNorth”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH3UV2mhNiu/
Perfect record earns Raptors No.1 seed ahead of Summer League tournament | Sportsnet.ca
Norman Powell has been the most impressive, leading the way on both ends of the floor, posting averages of 21.7 points on 44% shooting (incl. 52.6% from deep) to go along with six rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a steal per game. He’s currently second in the Summer League with a PER of 37.7. Yes, it’s just the Summer League, but for context Steph Curry led all players in the NBA last season with 31.5 (Jonas Valanciunas led the Raps with 22.6).
In his third Summer League appearance in a Raptors uni, Bruno Caboclo is averaging 12.7 points, while point guard Delon Wright is averaging 8.3 points and 4.7 assists. Rookie centre Jakob Poeltl has posted impressive—if somewhat bizarre— numbers thus far, shooting 90% from the floor yet taking just ten shots total through three games to go along with seven boards, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in 24 minutes per game, and has looked very solid overall thus far.
Toronto Raptors on Instagram: “Yak’s @thestarters debut. #NinjaPoeltl #WeTheNorth”
Terrence Ross Working Hard to Maximize Potential | Basketball Insiders
“I want to win,” Ross said. “I love this game and would play it if I had to pay someone to let me play. So for me, it’s about getting better and competing at the highest level. I’m blessed to have this opportunity to play at this level and be successful, but I want to be better.”
Looking at the Raptors’ roster, Ross is confident in the squad’s ability to compete.
“I think we are a versatile team,” Ross said. “We have guys who can play different roles and guys who have different skill sets, so really everything boils down to matchups. Coach [Dwane] Casey plays whoever he feels can get the job done and I respect that.”
Because Ross was a top-eight draft pick and has so much potential, expectations have been pretty high for him since he entered the league. This, of course, comes with some criticism and negativity – even from Toronto fans (who are very passionate). He has tried block all of that out, focusing instead on his support circle of teammates, coaches and family.
“I just keep working. People have a right to say what they want to say, but I just lean on my teammates and coaches,” Ross said. “I always have to make sure I continue to do anything I can to help my team win. What people say is out of my control, good or bad.
“[My motivation comes from] my family mostly. I want to make them proud. I also get motivation from my teammates. We got pretty far this year and I want to get better so we can improve our chances next year. I think everybody on the team feels that way. That’s what makes being in Toronto with these guys so special.”
