While everyone was sleeping the Spurs and Raptors pulled off a blockbuster as San Antonio agreed to in principal to ship Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Haynes were the first to report the news.
Additionally the Raptors will receive Danny Green according to San Antonio Express-News’ Jabari Young while the Spurs will get center Jokob Poeltl and a protected (1-20) first round pick in 2019.
San Antonio has agreed to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Trade call with league office is beginning momentarily. https://t.co/6DZNdAs8BM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
Like-wise if the protected pick doesn’t convey next season, the first round selection will turn into two second round picks.
In any sense, neither player is thrilled with their new teams.
Leonard isn’t thrilled about being dealt to the Raptors after trying to strong-arm a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers all offseason. Furthermore it seems likely Leonard will leave Toronto via free agency next summer.
Kawhi Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto, league source tells ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 18, 2018
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old DeRozan seemingly took shots at the Raptors’ lack of loyalty on Instragram after he was apparently promised earlier this month by the organization that he wouldn’t be dealt.
https://twitter.com/alexfan590/status/1019492799320920064
As far as DeRozan’s contract goes, the shooting guard will make $27.7 million in each of the next three seasons before hitting free agency in 2021.