Raptors trade DeMar DeRozan to Spurs for Kawhi Leonard: report

After weeks of trade rumours and speculation, the San Antonio Spurs have traded their disgruntled superstar to the Toronto Raptors.

As Shams Charania reports, the Spurs and Raptors were engaged in “serious talks” before a deal sending Leonard to Toronto in exchange for DeMar DeRozan was reportedly struck.

Early indications suggested the Spurs sought a king’s ransom for their superstar: the team reportedly asked for Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, coupled with two first-round picks and two swapped picks, in a potential trade with the LA Lakers.

The Spurs wound up dropping their asking price quite significantly, settling for DeRozan, a serviceable centre in Jakob Poeltl, and a protected first-round draft pick.

The deal ships DeRozan, arguably the greatest player in franchise history, out of Toronto for a player who may only play one season with the club. DeRozan was reportedly informed about the deal late last night.

DeRozan stirred up speculation last night with a somewhat cryptic message posted in his Instagram stories.

The biggest question now is whether the Raptors can successfully spend the next year convincing Leonard to sign long-term in Toronto. Kawhi’s desire to play in LA couldn’t have been overstated during San Antonio’s trade negotiations, and Leonard now finds himself playing in an entirely different country, let alone a city that is far away from Los Angeles.

Early indications seem to suggest Masai Ujiri might have a tough time getting Leonard to re-up with the Raptors.

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