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The imminent Kawhi Leonard trade kept most of the NBA in suspense throughout the latter part of the regular season and the offseason, as many franchises were on their toes, readying a package suitable enough to warrant his services.
Despite having three premier candidates for a trade in Philadelphia, Boston, and Los Angeles, it was the Toronto Raptors who swung a deal for Leonard, packaging their franchise star DeMar DeRozan for the defensive ace, a move that hardly surprised reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
“Nothing in the NBA shocks me when it comes to business,” Kevin Durant said, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “I’m excited that Kawhi was able to do what he wanted to do. I know DeMar was a little upset about the move, but I think in the long run it’s going to be great for basketball for both those guys.”
Durant went on to explain how the trade would be beneficial to each party.
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“Kawhi getting the opportunity to control his own team from the small forward position, wanting to do the stuff that he wants to do in his last few years in San Antonio, he gets to showcase that in Toronto,” explained Kevin Durant. “And I think DeMar is going to work great with Coach Pop [Gregg Popovich] and just bring out the best in him. So, it worked out well for both sides, I thought.”
DeMar DeRozan seems like a loyal guy who wants the same in return. If that is the case, there is no better landing spot than San Antonio, which has the best reputation for staying true to their players and honoring their contracts, rarely heard of in trade situations.
As for Kawhi Leonard, now that he has passed his physical, he will skip USA Basketball minicamp to focus on his new team — a sign he's not far from a return to the court in a new uniform.
