Most franchises and fan bases are irked, at the very least, when incumbent players leave for big-market teams in free agency, but the departures of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from the Toronto Raptors is different. Not just because the pair helped lead the Raptors to their first title in franchise history, but because they were acquired by Toronto via trade and spent just a single season playing north of the border.

After Leonard rocked the basketball world by signing with the LA Clippers and Green subsequently signed with the cross-arena Los Angeles Lakers, ending their eight-year partnership as teammates, the Raptors released a video thanking them for their time in Toronto.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Toronto Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan watched the game Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Scotiabank Arena
Why Brendan Shanahan’s exit from Maple Leafs could be good news for Raptors
Ranking 5 best Darius Garland trade destinations if Cavs blow it up
Ranking 5 best Darius Garland trade destinations if Cavs blow it up

The San Antonio Spurs traded Leonard and Green to the Raptors last summer in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick. It was the culmination of months-long acrimony between the team and Leonard, who was mysteriously sidelined for most of the 2017-18 season with a nagging quad injury before finally requesting a trade. Common knowledge when Toronto made the move was that Leonard had plans to return home to Southern California in free agency, a possibility that still existed after he led the Raptors to a title and won his second Finals MVP award.

Leonard teams with Paul George for the Clippers, immediately boosting Doc Rivers' team to legitimate championship contention, perhaps for years to come. Green, meanwhile, agreed to a two-year, $30 million deal with the Lakers, and will likely start at shooting guard, feasting off open catch-and-shoot opportunities provided by attention paid to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.