Kawhi Leonard Blockbuster

Raptors Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green
Spurs Receive: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, 2019 First Round Pick

The Raptors and Spurs just pulled off one of the biggest NBA trades of all time as former Finals MVP and two-time defensive player of the year Kawhi Leonard is on his way north of the border along with Danny Green. Going the other way is the Raptors all-time leading scorer in DeMar DeRozan along with Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick. At first glance, it may seem like a lot for the Raptors to give up for a player likely to only be with them one season. But as long as Leonard is healthy and plays, the Raptors in 2019 will end up winning the blockbuster deal.



When healthy Kawhi Leonard ranks among the league's very best players along with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Anthony Davis. He may also be the very best defender in the league as the only player who can even come close to him on that end of the court is Draymond Green. Leonard is the best player in the Eastern Conference and he is joining the East's number one team from last year's regular season. I still don't see Toronto knocking off the Celtics but this move puts them above Philadelphia and anything can happen especially if Boston struggles with injuries once again. The Raptors will be able to play lock-down defence especially if they run a unit with Leonard alongside Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka. It may seem like a one-year gamble for the Raptors as Kawhi will probably leave Toronto to join his hometown Lakers in free agency but even if that happens, the Raptors would be in a better position than they were yesterday.



The Raptors could keep bringing back the team that would guarantee them a top-four seed in the East along with a first-round playoff series win but nothing more. It was time to move on from a team that clearly would never become good enough to challenge for a final's berth. This may be the year to do it in the East too as Boston and Philly are still young while no other threats remain. DeRozan will forever be an all-time great Raptor but that is not because he is one of the best players in the league; he is not. He gave his heart to Toronto and remained when no other all stars had but he was not good enough alongside Lowry to win a championship let alone reach a finals. DeRozan could improve under one of the best coaches ever in San Antonio or a new system could also mean DeRozan may stumble if he is asked to play the defence he is not capable of providing.



Instead Masai Ujiri decided it was time to try and win a championship and if the attempt proves futile to go into a rebuild which is what Ujiri wanted to do when he first came up north. If Leonard walks which is the most likely scenario, the Raptors will be free of DeRozan's ridiculous cap hit of $83 million over three years. He is a good player but he is not worth that kind of money. The Raptors have some young players they could build around in future all-defensive team member OG Anunoby, athletic big Pascal Siakam, sixth-man-of-the-year finalist Fred VanVleet and despite being in the league for awhile Jonas Valanciunas is still only 26 years old. Maybe Norman Powell can turn into the player he has proven himself to be in the playoffs or Delon Wright can take the next step as well. They could also avoid a rebuild by bringing in another superstar during the off season with the cap space cleared up. They could take a run at Jimmy Butler who has voiced displeasure in Minnesota or Klay Thompson if he chooses to chase money over more NBA titles. Depending on Kawhi's choice, the Raptors will have options going forward.



Lost in the Leonard DeRozan talk is the sneaky good addition of Danny Green who provides the Raptors with the three-and-d player that they desperately need. Green is a career 40 per cent three-point shooter and has been named to all-defensive teams in the past. Green also brings championship pedigree to a team who struggles in the playoffs. During the 2014 NBA finals, Green set the record for most three pointers made in an NBA finals. He is a huge upgrade over CJ Miles who struggled shooting during his first year in Toronto and can't play any defence. The Raptors lose Jakob Poeltl who was a solid player during his second season as a backup center but does not seem to have a very high ceiling. In case the Raptors struggle this season, the first-round pick is also top 20 protected so if their choice is in the top 20, the first rounder would turn into two seconds instead.

Grades: Raptors A+ (If Leonard is healthy) Spurs B+

Photo credit for Kawhi Leonard goes to http://si.com/. DeMar DeRozan goes to https://ca.nba.com/?gr=www. Leonard and DeRozan goes to https://www.express.co.uk/.

Free Agents The Raptors Should Target

It finally seemed like the Raptors were primed to take down LeBron, but that was before DeMar Derozan choked again while LeBron dominated playing the best basketball of his career. The Raptors have very little cap space to work with but a few trades could change that. They need to address their leadership, toughness, three-point shooting and defence to really have a shot at competing in the improving Eastern Conference. Here are some players that should be on the Raptors radar in no specific order come July 1st.

Fred VanVleet:

8.6 PTS 2.4 RB 3.2 AST 0.9 STL 0.3 BLK

The first thing to do on the Raptors' list of off-season moves is to bring back the leader of their bench mob. In his second season, Fred VanVleet was nominated for sixth man of the year carrying the Raptors bench while playing crucial 4th quarter minutes for the East's number one squad. Toronto may need to trade Serge Ibaka or Norman Powell to bring him back but it would probably be worth it. VanVleet was missed dearly in the playoffs as the bench was not the same without him versus the Wizards.



Wayne Ellington:

11.2 PTS 2.8 RB 1.0 AST 0.7 STL 0.1 BLK

Wayne Ellington carved Toronto up from three-point land in their final game of the regular season and Toronto had no answer for him from behind the arc. To fix their three-point shooting woes, they should look to bring him in. To clear up the cap space, they could possibly do a sign and trade with their sharpshooter CJ Miles who disappointed in his first season north of the border.



Marcus Smart:

10.2 PTS 3.5 RB 4.8 AST 1.3 STL 0.4 BLK

Marcus Smart ranks among the very best defensive guards in the league playing lock down the perimeter and even switching onto bigger players. He is also capable offensively as he moves the ball well even though he lacks efficiency. It is highly unlikely Smart would join a division rival and he is probably way over the price range Toronto could pay.



Luc Mbah a Moute:

7.5 PTS 3.0 RB 0.9 AST 1.2 STL 0.4 BLK

Luc Mbah a Moute's calling card is his ability to lock down the perimeter and guard multiple positions which would be key for the Raptors come playoff time. He can also knock down three pointers on offence which would help Toronto. If LeBron sticks out East, they could turn to him to try and take down the King.



Lucas Nogueira:

2.5 PTS 1.8 RB 0.4 AST 0.5 STL 0.9 BLK

Lucas Nogueira is the perfect third center: he does not need regular playing time and can make an impact in sparse minutes off the bench. When Dwane Casey would give him minutes, Nogueira usually responded by blocking every shot in the paint or throwing down lob passes. He may get lost on defence sometimes but Toronto will miss him if he moves on to a place where he could pursue a larger role.



Marco Belinelli:

12.1 PTS 1.9 RB 1.9 AST 0.8 STL 0.2 BLK

Seeing the damage Marco Belinelli did in the playoffs for Philly this past April and May makes Toronto look bad for not signing him off the buyout market. Belinelli is one of the league's elite shooters who can seamlessly shoot from anywhere outside the three-point line. He lacks defence but his shooting mentality for go a long way in spreading the floor.



Patrick Beverley:

12.2 PTS 4.1 RB 2.9 AST 1.6 STL 0.5 BLK

Patrick Beverley almost missed all of last season with an injury so he may be cheap on the market despite the fact he may be the best defensive point guard in the league. Getting into the face of everyone he guards while contributing on the offensive end is a rare gift in today's NBA. If Toronto loses VanVleet they should look for Beverley to fill his role as backup point guard.



Vince Carter:

5.4 PTS 2.6 RB 1.2 AST 0.7 STL 0.4 BLK

Vince Carter recently said he wants to play one more season in the NBA. The Raptors should bring him back to allow Vinsanity to retire in the place where he started his legendary NBA career full of ferocious dunks. Even if he rarely sees the floor, he can provide leadership and he can still shoot the three ball which is key in today's NBA.



Mario Hezonja:

9.6 PTS 3.7 RB 1.4 AST 1.1 STL 0.4 BLK

Mario Hezonja has not lived up to the potential which made him a fifth-overall pick but he still contributes off the bench. He can shoot the three while also scoring at the rim. Hezonja still has some of the potential somewhere and maybe playing for a playoff team would help to get the most out of the Croatian.



Doug McDermott:

7.8 PTS 2.5 RB 1.0 AST 0.3 STL 0.2 BLK

McDermott is another one of this free agency classes' better three-point shooters as he rained threes for New York and Dallas this past season. His defence can be an issue sometimes and as he is not quite the shooter Belinelli or Ellington is, the Raptors may have to pass on him. He would come at a cheap price though so if Toronto can add him as a low salary it would be worth it.



Channing Frye:

5.0 PTS 2.5 RB 0.7 AST 0.3 STL 0.2 BLK

If Nogueira does not return next year, the Raptors should look at Channing Frye as the third center. He lit up Toronto from three for two straight playoffs and would spread the floor from the five which the Raptors don't have right now. He would also bring championship pedigree to Toronto as he won with Cleveland in 2016.



LeBron James:

LeBron is the best player in the NBA and as a free agent he has the option to go to whatever team he pleases. That team will not be the Raptors but every team should have LeBron on their list of free agent targets as he is one of the greatest of all time. If LeBron came north of the border for one season it would make up for the amount of times he has crushed Raptors hearts in the playoffs.

27.5 PTS 8.6 RB 9.1 AST 1.4 STL 0.9 BLK



Photo credit for Fred VanVleet goes to https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/. Wayne Ellington goes to https://www.si.com/. Marcus Smart and Patrick Beverley goes to https://www.slamonline.com/. Luc Mbah a Moute goes to https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/. Lucas Nogueira, Vince Carter, Mario Hezonja and Doug McDermott goes to https://ca.nba.com/?gr=www. Marco Belinelli goes to https://twitter.com/. Channing Frye goes to https://cavsnation.com/. LeBron James goes to https://www.cbssports.com/.