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Raptors complete biggest trade since Vince’s departure – who won the deal?

By Brian Boake

SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 17 : LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard #2(in street clothes) of the San Antonio Spurs share a laugh in closing minute of game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at AT&T Center on March 17, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 17 : LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard #2(in street clothes) of the San Antonio Spurs share a laugh in closing minute of game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at AT&T Center on March 17, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 23 – (l-r) Jakob Poeltl and DeMar DeRozan celebrate after a basket during the 2nd half of NBA action as the Toronto Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre on December 23, 2017. The Raptors defeated the 76ers 102-86 (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 23 – (l-r) Jakob Poeltl and DeMar DeRozan celebrate after a basket during the 2nd half of NBA action as the Toronto Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre on December 23, 2017. The Raptors defeated the 76ers 102-86 (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

The Raptors have completed the most important trade since the earth-shaking day they moved Vince Carter. Is Toronto further ahead with Kawhi Leonard on board, but DeRozan gone?

The Toronto Raptors made giant headlines across the NBA and around the world. DeMar DeRozan, the owner of almost every franchise scoring record worth mentioning, has been move to the San Antonio Spurs. Perennial MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard is a Raptor.

Those two are the centrepieces of the deal. Two other players change cities – Jakob Poeltl goes to San Antonio, while Danny Green is coming north. The Spurs also persuaded the Raptors to throw in their 2019 first round pick, which is protected 1-20. The pick converts to two 2020 second-rounders if not conveyed.

Like all NBA trades, the deal is not official until all players involved pass physicals performed by their new teams’ medical officers. I normally wouldn’t mention this detail, but in the case of Kawhi Leonard, it could loom very large. His quadriceps injury limited him to 9 games last season, and disagreement over its diagnosis and treatment was a huge source of discord between Leonard and the Spurs.

We’ll assume all players involved get thumbs-up for purposes of this analysis. If not…anything could happen.

The reaction to the deal by the principals has been extreme anger. Leonard is threatening not to report to Toronto, while DeRozan is claiming he was assured he wouldn’t be moved. [20-second timeout: Masai Ujiri is taking flak from everywhere, whereas Spurs GM R.C. Buford has hardly been mentioned. I find that most curious.]

I’m going to consider this astonishing transaction, first by mentioning its positives, then its negatives, and then a conclusion (if you want fence-sitting, look elsewhere).

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