Raptors trade DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard in 4-player deal

Jul 18 2018, 8:23 pm

The Toronto Raptors are trading All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for  Kawhi Leonard.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the four-player deal includes the Spurs sending guard Danny Green to the Raptors, with centre Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick heading to San Antonio. Per ESPN, the pick is a protected 1-20 selection.

A pair of reports had surfaced in the past few weeks connecting the Raptors and Spurs, with the Washington Post reporting that the Raptors “generated buzz” for Leonard last week while this week an ESPN report indicated that the Raptors were in the “driver’s seat” for a potential trade.

There is major risk involved on the Raptors end as Leonard will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2018-19 season.

DeRozan has three years left on his five-year contract signed before the 2016-17 season, for which he will make $27.7 million annually. The contract does include an early-termination option for the 2020-21 season.

Last night, DeRozan released several cryptic Insta-Stories that suggest he was upset with the trade:

A trade call with the league is currently taking place to confirm approval.

With files from Rob Williams

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