DeRozan says goodbye to Toronto on Instagram

TORONTO — Departing star DeMar DeRozan has bade farewell to Toronto.

DeRozan posted a heartfelt thank-you note to the city and Raptors fans on his Instagram account Saturday afternoon, four days after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster National Basketball Association deal.

Superstar Kawhi Leonard and forward Danny Green were sent to the Raptors in the deal, which also shipped Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick to San Antonio.

“Words could never express what you’ve meant to me,” wrote DeRozan in a caption on a photo of him signing the back of his Raptors jersey.

“I was just a 19-year-old kid from Compton when we first met, but you took me in and embraced me as one of your own.

“I am so grateful for the Love and Passion that you’ve given me over the past 9 years. All I ever wanted to do was duplicate it 10x over just to show my appreciation. Thank you Toronto, thank you Canada.”

DeRozan had said in the past that he wanted to finish his career with the Raptors.

The guard voiced his displeasure regarding the trade on his Instagram account as the news was breaking on Wednesday.

DeRozan was Toronto’s best scorer in each of the last five seasons and helped the team to a 59-23 record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this past season.