Toronto's run to the NBA Finals is bittersweet in the sense that it took an emotional blockbuster of a trade between the Spurs and Raptors to get them over the hump.

DeMar DeRozan was the heart and soul of the Raptors, but the move was made by Masai Ujiri to give Toronto the best chance to win a championship and now they're four games away from doing just that.  DeMar, on the other hand, had a great season with the Spurs, but now he's watching the Finals alone without his best buddy, Kyle Lowry.

 

 

<a bxirwwjhzmd=" t="" target="_blank" that="" the="" time="" titled="" to="" two="" with="" would="" www.instagram.com=" " you="" data-cke-pa-on="" data-cke-pa-one="">DeMar #DeRozan still has the backs of his old #Raptors buddies 👏

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The caption refers to lyrics from a song by Kevin Gates titled 'I Got That Dope,' but one would assume that the empty chair is for Lowry.  The two friends still have an incredible relationship and DeRozan still speaks with most of the players he had a relationship with prior to being traded.

 

 
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> DeMar #DeRozan still has the backs of his old #Raptors buddies [👏]

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Still, a part of us can't help but think that the moment the Raptors made the Finals would have been more special had DeRozan been on the team.

(H/T: DeMar DeRozan)