DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs greets Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors at the end of the game at the AT&T Center on January 3, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas.
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A controversial trade that sent then-face of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, Kawhi Leonard, to the Toronto Raptors ended a chapter in Spurs history. The final piece of the core group that helped bring a fifth NBA championship to San Antonio in 2014, Leonard’s trade brought the team to the not-so-familiar spot of missing the playoffs for the last four seasons.
It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since the trade that rocked the Spurs franchise. It’s also safe to say San Antonio fans felt snubbed by the Spur requesting a trade in 2018.
“Bye Kawhi! #DramaQueen He’s damaged goods anyway! #GoSpursGo,” San Antonio’s David said in a MySA article from when Leonard asked for the trade in 2018. The dramatic saga of Leonard in San Antonio ended on July 18, 2018, when the team flipped the former NBA Finals MVP to the Toronto Raptors.
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The Spurs sent Leonard and forward Danny Green to Toronto in exchange for All-Star DeMar DeRozan, center Jakob Poeltl and a projected 2019 first-round pick, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers also showed interest in trading Leonard.
So let’s turn back the clock to look back at the players involved in the Leonard trade, where they ended up and what people think about it today.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, right, greets Kawhi Leonard, currently of the Los Angeles Clippers and formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, after the Clippers defeated the Spurs, 131-126, in NBA action at the AT&T Center on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
Billy Calzada / Staff Photographer
Kawhi Leonard
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Leonard was injured in Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals and missed the final three games of the series against the Golden State Warriors. The lingering quadriceps injury limited him to just nine games in 2017-18. During his recovery back on the court, Leonard became “unhappy” with Spurs management about how the rehab was handled and his choice to get a second opinion on the injury, the report said.
Leonard went on to play 60 games in Toronto, where he averaged 26.6 points – which was the highest of his career to that point. He also averaged 1.8 steals, 3.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game. according to Basketball Reference. He was named an All-Star and won the 2019 NBA Finals, beating the Golden State Warriors and also claiming another NBA Finals MVP.
He then went to the Los Angeles Clipper on one $103 million contract for three years. Injuries continued to follow Leonard after his championship season, an ACL injury kept him out of the 2021-22 season, and out of a possible 328 games, he has played in 161.
Danny Green gets a pat from his old coach Gregg Popovich when the Spurs host the Raptors at the AT&T Center on January 3, 2019.
Tom Reel, staff / staff photographer
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Danny Green
PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 8: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against Norman Powell #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at the Moda Center on May 8, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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DeMar DeRozan
Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 5, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Jakob Poeltl
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Poeltl brought DeRozan in the trade and for five seasons in San Antonio averaged 8.8 points, 1.4 blocks, 2.1 assists. He signed a 3-year, $26 million contract with the Spurs in 2020, but was traded back to Toronto in February 2023. Poeltl just resigned with the Raptors on a four-year, $78 million contract.
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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The draft
That draft pick ended up being Kentucky’s Keldon Johnson, who was selected No. 29 overall by the Spurs in the 2019 NBA Draft. Johnson played in 63 games in 2022-23, averaging 22 points, 2.9 assists and five rebounds per game. according to Basketball Reference.
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What the media said
The Express-News gave the Raptors an “incomplete” grade. The characters would be different if they were made today. Toronto won a title and San Antonio made the postseason in 2019.
ESPN Senior Writer Kevin Pelton gave the Spurs a “D” grade as they didn’t get more draft picks or a young core player from Toronto. He gave the Raptors an “A-” grade for making a deal that shook up the franchise after being swept out of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
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Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni gave the Spurs a “D” grade for the trade package they got in return for Leonard. Nadkarni gave the Raptors an “A” grade for shedding DeRozan’s contract and giving the team a chance to make the NBA Finals since LeBron James signed with the Western Conference Los Angeles Lakers.
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama poses for a portrait during the 2023 NBA rookie photo shoot at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on July 12.
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Spurs
After missing the last four playoffs and winning the Victor Wembanyama Award, Spurs fans feel the playoff drought may be coming to an end. Wembanyama, a “generational talent,” is expected to take the franchise back to where Leonard left it — a consistent NBA Finals contender — but the distaste for Leonard may never go away.