We have reached the final destination of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been linked to a number of teams this summer, including the Lakers and Celtics. Leonard has explicitly expressed strong interest in suiting up in the purple and gold earlier this year, but the Spurs failed to honor his request. They did not want to possibly play against him four times per year.
Earlier this morning, it was reported by ESPN that the Raptors and Spurs were finalizing a deal to send Raptors four-time all-star, DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. Based on DeRozan’s response on his Instagram story, he is not pleased by this news.
“Be told one thing and the outcome another. Can’t trust em,” said the Raptors superstar. “Ain’t no loyalty in this game.”
DeMar's IG story right now ? pic.twitter.com/RQit4AUYwQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2018
Neither player is pleased by their new teams. Because Leonard blatantly expressed his desired to play in Los Angeles, the Spurs shipped him to the Eastern Conference. Not only that, he was sent out of the country.
Kawhi Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto, league source tells ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 18, 2018
Toronto has reached agreement in principle to acquire San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard for package that includes DeMar DeRozan, league sources tell ESPN. Trade is larger on both sides, and players are still being informed of their inclusion in the deal. Trade call with league today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
For now, only DeRozan has been informed that he's in the trade, league sources tell ESPN. Toronto president Masai Ujiri informed DeRozan overnight, sources said. https://t.co/fghY7eTCWR
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
The San Antonio-Toronto deal has been close for days and nearly fallen apart several times, league sources tell ESPN. Ujiri wanted to inform DeRozan himself late last night, in hours before trade call. DeRozan and longtime teammate Kyle Lowry talked hours ago, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
Woj was the first NBA Insider to break the news about LeBron James’s new deal with the Lakers.
The deal will also send Danny Green to Toronto while bringing Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-rounder to the Spurs. The NBA Free Agency period has been a great drama story, with many superstars switching jerseys. Both Leonard and DeRozan are proven All-Stars and superstars in the NBA. Leonard has yet to come out and address anything surrounding the trade, but we know how DeRozan feels.
Last season DeRozan averaged 23.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He shared the backcourt duties with Kyle Lowry. As leaders of the team, the All-Star backcourt could not produce the necessary results to advance to an NBA Finals. Leonard on the other hand, sat out most of last season recovering from a series of injuries. In 2017, he averaged 25.5 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals. He finished third in MVP voting that season.
While the former Spur is still eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, DeRozan has two years remaining on his contract. He is set to join LaMarcus Aldridge as a new All-Star tandem in San Antonio.
