Per ESPN,
Raptors agree to deal to acquire Spurs' Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozanUnsurprisingly, neither player is enthusiastic about the deal.
This is probably the best deal the Spurs could hope for especially if the they can get a pick. If I’m the the Raptors, I’d push for a pick
from the Spurs since DeRozan has three years left on his deal. Everyone knows Leonard doesn’t want to be in San Antonio. He also doesn’t want to be in Toronto.
This is not that risky for the Raptors. Even after LeBron James left the East, they had a very tiny window to even get to the Finals with a roster led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. They were going to have to rebuild in a couple years anyway. Leonard is a much better player so they’re throwing a Hail Mary, and if it yields a championship (it won’t), great. If it doesn’t, they get off DeRozan’s money sooner. Either way, making a bold move like this is good for their front office. It shows free agents how serious the team is about trying to win.
I’m really glad the Lakers didn’t pull the trigger on a trade. Chasing Kawhi Leonard probably cost them a meeting with Paul George (try explaining to a marquee free agent that he’ll have to change the way he plays to be the third option). Two weeks before free agency, the Lakers found out they were not only in play for Leonard but were the favorites. They chose to focus on Kawhi Leonard. 100 times out of 100, you make that choice. I still think Kawhi Leonard ends up on the Lakers next year, possibly before the trade deadline. The Raptors know where they stand now, but I don’t think they’ll let him walk for nothing. They either get a commitment from him or they start tanking midseason.