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23 days of Toronto Raptors history: The Trade For Kawhi Leonard

By Andrew Fulton

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 13: Pau Gasol #16 of the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs, and Davis Bertans #42 of the San Antonio Spurs look on against the Denver Nuggets on January 13, 2018 at the AT&T Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 13: Pau Gasol #16 of the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs, and Davis Bertans #42 of the San Antonio Spurs look on against the Denver Nuggets on January 13, 2018 at the AT&T Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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We continue ’23 Days in Raptor History ‘with one of the most shocking trades in franchise history: The trade of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.

The news came early that morning.

Masai and company had just traded for Kawhi Leonard. A top 5 player. A perennial all-star and two-way beast. A legitimate MVP candidate, who was, up until a few months ago, the player who would lead the San Antonio Spurs into its next generation of success.

The Road to the Trade

But an injury and a “difference of opinion” on how to best remedy it, led to a rift between the Spurs brass, coaches and players and the former NBA Finals MVP.

Kawhi wanted out, whether he said so publicly or not. He would never play for the Spurs again.

The early buzz had the frontrunners, Boston, Philadelphia, and the Lakers, interested, but not willing to give up too much for the soon to be free agent, especially considering the rumors that he wanted to end up in Los Angeles a year from now.

 “When you get a chance to get a top 5 player, which doesn’t happen very often, you have to jump on it.”

The rationale and reasoning behind the trade has merit. Consider the chances of a free agent of Leonard’s ilk coming to Toronto next July on his own  accord – extremely low.

However, the chances of selling him on the franchise, the city, the country after one (possibly quite successful) year with the team –  much higher.

But what we had to give back was what stung. Not often have Raptors fans had to swallow a pill so bitter. Did we give up the best player in franchise history? The one guy who wanted to stay? The one guy who never complained about national anthems, ESPN, taxes or even long lines at the airport?

The Pros & Cons of the Trade

 The trade has been debated exhaustively for nearly two months now.

The Pros:

A top 5 player. A guy who has nearly averaged 50-40-90 on the offensive end. On the defensive end, well, he’s a Defensive Player of the Year type guy who can shut down the best player on the opposing team. – in any tough playoff series. He has a 118 Offensive Rating and a 99 Defensive Rating (per 100 poss). He’s a Finals MVP. A guy who can make those around him better (that’s invaluable to a young, eager second core).

And, oh, yeah. He’s also the best player we’ve ever had. 

The Cons:

DeMar DeRozan

The trade ignited a debate amongst Raptors fans. A debate that focused on everything from DeMar’s playoff benching to the place loyalty has in sports.

 As time has passed, fans have and will slowly come to realize that the sky isn’t falling. Yes, DeMar was our best player and our most loyal.  Maybe ever. Yes, he did want to be a Raptor for life.

Yeah, maybe it was time to move on. But this one hurt.

Did we give up too much? Maybe. Some will point to the fact that the Raptors had just completed their 5th season with 48 wins or more. They adjusted their offense last year to be more in step with an evolving NBA. They had been to the playoffs every year, only to lose to LeBron. LeBron is now in LA.

Arriving soon on your “Biggest What-If’s in Raptor History”: Should the Raptors have waited to see what we could’ve done with the DeMar-Lowry-Casey core without Number 23 in the conference?

Others will tell you that the window on this core may have been closing, with the major pieces having contracts expiring in the next two years. Why not go for it now? And if you have the chance to get a top 5 guy in a weakened East, you have to make that move.

The Year of Kawhi

 Let it be known that every ebb and flow, every winning and losing streak, every rumor, will raise paranoia levels across the city and country.

This will be the year of Kawhi. This will be the year for the franchise to show this quiet superstar who doesn’t like attention, that Toronto is the right fit. Every decision that is made by the front office will be made to win with him and to keep him interested in the team. Longterm.

Already, rumors are swirling that the team should consider adding that one more piece to not only challenge Boston and Philadelphia but to maybe even give the Warriors a run for their money.

Left With Questions

 Will he be healthy? Can he return to his former level? Will he like the city, his teammates, his rookie coach?  Can he help the team make it to the Conference Finals, the NBA Finals?

Will he re-sign?

These are questions that aren’t going away. Not anytime soon. They will inevitably heat up as the year progresses; as the team’s season succeeds or fails; as others around the league make moves to win; as others around us trip and fall.

dark. Next. Best draft picks in Toronto Raptors history

But one thing is for sure. This will be as exciting a basketball season as we’ve had in Toronto in a long time.

And it’s all thanks to a trade that happened early one July morning.