So after all of the Kawhi Leonard going to Los Angeles talk most of the summer no has no legs (except that Leonard is a free agent after the 2018-19 season most are saying he will still end up in Los Angeles (Clippers or Lakers depending on who you get the report from). Can Toronto pull an Oklahoma City move, use this year to recruit Leonard to stay and sign him?
Trade details:
San Antonio Spurs get:
G DeMar DeRozan
F Jakob Poeltl
A protected 2019 first-round pickToronto Raptors get:
G/F Kawhi Leonard
G Danny Green
Now my look on this is the Raptors get a chance to sell Leonard on Toronto, but then why couldn’t they make this move for Dwane Casey last year or make this move and keep Casey on board. Casey was fired during the offseason after winning Coach of the Year and leading the Raptors to their best season in franchise history. Two sweeps by the LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers soured great seasons. If he had Leonard against James maybe he really has a chance? Maybe he goes further in the playoffs this season, but if “if was a fifth we’d all be drunk”.
Is Leonard healthy? Will he return to being one of the best two way players in the NBA? Will DeRozan be able to get over the fact he was traded when the front office just told him they weren’t going to trade him? We will only know who wins this deal of two all-stars after this season because if Leonard leaves the Spurs at least have a star for two years who is still in his prime.
DeRozan’s IG Story:
