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DeRozan 'happy' with Spurs, looking forward to facing Raptors

Melissa Majchrzak / National Basketball Association / Getty

DeMar DeRozan returned to Toronto on Thursday for the first time since being traded to the San Antonio Spurs last offseason.

The blockbuster deal initially angered the longtime Raptors star, but he appears to be at peace several months later.

"Time does heal everything," DeRozan told reporters, including The Athletic's Blake Murphy. "That don't mean it's gonna go back to the same way that it was. I'm fine with that. I moved on. I'm happy where I'm at ... We all moved on."

The Spurs' matchup against the Raptors on Friday will be DeRozan's first game at Scotiabank Arena as a visitor. He doesn't know quite what to expect, but is prepared for an emotional night.

"If it’s one of them long standing ovations, it’s definitely going to be overwhelming … I’m looking forward to it, to feeling the love," DeRozan said, according to The Athletic's Eric Koreen.

DeRozan added that he doesn't plan on speaking with Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who executed the offseason trade, but that he's looking forward to squaring off with his good friend Kyle Lowry after the latter missed the season's first meeting between Toronto and San Antonio due to injury.

"I just plan on talking to Kyle," DeRozan said, according to Murphy. "Can't wait to see Kyle."

DeRozan was drafted ninth overall by the Raptors in 2009 and went on to become the franchise's all-time leader in games played. Across nine seasons with the team, he averaged 19.7 points per contest, made four All-Star appearances, and earned All-NBA third-team honors in 2016-17 and second-team honors the following year.

The 29-year-old is averaging 21.4 points and a career-high 6.1 assists per contest in his first season with the Spurs.

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