A potential Kawhi Leonard deal to his beloved Boston Celtics is looking bleaker by the day — even more so with news that one of the best two-way players in the game is headed to Canada — but the “Sports Guy” is still willing to dig in and spitball on some plausible scenarios.
The former ESPN columnist and now CEO and founder of The Ringer recently tweeted what he believes is how the framework of the Leonard-to-the-Raptors trade could end up.
My guess for the Kawhi Trade (no inside info)…
Kawhi/Gasol for DeRozan/ Poeltl plus an unprotected Raptors 1st in 2019.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 18, 2018
According to the tweet, the Toronto Raptors could be sending DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poetl plus an unprotected 2019 1st round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard and Pau Gasol. Sure enough, the trade appears to be valid despite a projected $6 million difference with both Leonard and Gasol combining for nearly $37 million while DeRozan and Poetl just make up to $31 million.
The unprotected first rounder as sweetener makes it slightly more appealing in theory, although the value of the pick isn't as enticing as it appears to be now that the East is wide open with LeBron James no longer in the picture and the fact that Leonard's presence can make any team into an eight seed at worst.
The Spurs more than likely would ask for the inclusion of OG Anunoby in any deal. The 6-foot-8 Swiss Army Knife could be the ideal replacement for what they are bound to lose with Leonard defensively while DeRozan could easily slot in as the second option to forward LaMarcus Aldridge, or perhaps even their best player.
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