AceShowbiz - Rap superstar Drake has been credited with comforting longtime Toronto Raptors basketball ace DeMar DeRozan following the news of his shock trade.

The sportsman discovered he had been ousted from the Canadian franchise and was being sent to Texas as part of an exchange for San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard last week, July 18, and the first person DeRozan turned to was his pal Drake, who also serves as the celebrity ambassador for his hometown Raptors team.

"The day it came out, I went to Drake's house," DeRozan told ESPN. "(We) sat and talked for a couple hours, man. Not even on the hoops stuff, just (as) my partner. Just to hear the words that come from him being the person that he is in this world, especially in Toronto. What I meant to the city - it was what I needed."

The God's Plan hitmaker was also emotional about the trade news, paying tribute to his "brother" DeRozan in a touching Instagram post.

Alongside a photo of the departing Raptors star and Leonard in action on the court, Drake wrote, "I want to say 10 million thank you's (sic) on behalf of YOUR city. You are a fixture in Toronto forever and you gave everything you had. Through your leadership we had the most exciting years in franchise history. I am grateful to have witnessed your combination of skill, persistence, and loyalty from the same seats every night. Thank you for being an incredible captain and an even better friend."

The hip-hop star also shared a warm welcome to Kawhi, posting, "We look forward to this new chapter and we welcome you to the most intense and supportive city in NBA basketball!!! You have always been a poised clinical warrior and I can't wait to see how Toronto inspires your fight. Let's Go Raptors."