Revisiting the top 5 trades in Toronto Raptors history
1. Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard‘s trade to the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2018 is, by far, the greatest trade in franchise history. As important as Kyle Lowry is to the team, even as the greatest player in Toronto Raptors history, he doesn’t win a title without Kawhi Leonard by his side.
The Raptors had been amid their most successful spell in franchise history when they made the trade for Leonard, but two successive sweeps by the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the postseason left the front office feeling like they had reached their ceiling with the duo of Lowry and DeMar DeRozan anchoring the team.
DeRozan was the sacrificial lamb, with Jakob Poeltl – a young and rising center – and a first-round pick thrown into the mix for good measure. That haul gave the Raptors their superstar in Leonard and an elite 3-and-D defender in Danny Green. How the Raptors managed to get someone as pivotal as Green is a true testament to the ability of the front office.
Green shot a career-high 46-percent from three in the regular-season and while his impact weened in the playoffs he was still important in decisive moments – much like most players during the Raptors title run. It’s no surprise that Green was able to become one of the Raptors fan favourites during his lone season north of the border.
As for Leonard, well, he probably put forward the greatest single-season in Toronto Raptors history in the 2018-19 NBA season and, like Green, it would be his only season in Toronto. Leonard averaged 26.9 points per game during the regular season before upping his average to 30.5 points per game in the postseason. He was on another planet.
With huge moments proving to be the norm during the Raptors Finals run, including the Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers, Leonard was voted as the Finals MVP for the second time in his career as the Raptors won their first-ever NBA title.
dark. Next. Ujiri is still trying to repair relationship with DeRozan
Leonard only lasted one season in Toronto before electing to move back home to Los Angeles to join the LA Clippers, but the Raptors knew the risk. The price was worth it.