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/.
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