Raptors trade DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard in 4-player deal
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.
San Antonio has agreed to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Trade call with league office is beginning momentarily. https://t.co/6DZNdAs8BM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
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:
This is from DeMar DeRozan’s IG story: pic.twitter.com/ZchquqEoPy
— JR Dongalen (@ReubenJRD) July 18, 2018
A trade call with the league is currently taking place to confirm approval.
With files from Rob Williams
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