Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
The NBA’s Eastern Conference just got a little more interesting.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Toronto Raptors have agreed to send DeMar DeRozan plus pieces to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. An agreement in principle was reached early Wednesday morning, league sources said.
The trade is already getting off to an odd start. Sources close to DeRozan revealed that Raptors brass informed him during the Las Vegas Summer league that the franchise had no intent to trade him. But with the blockbuster move happening, DeRozan feels blindsided, and let it be known. In an Instagram story, he wrote, “Be told one thing & the outcome another. Can’t trust em. Ain’t no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quick for a little bit of nothing… Soon you’ll understand… Don’t disturb…”
DeRozan has three years and $83 million left on his contract, including an early termination option for the 2020-21 season.
While the drama is just getting started in Toronto, we can’t forget about the firing of Dwane Casey—the story that’s been dragging on in San Antonio for the past few months. Leonard’s uncle has taken over many of his business ventures and he’s over playing for the Spurs. Though cleared to play this season after recovering from a quad injury, he decided to sit out. The choice was odd, and Leonard’s own teammate Tony Parker revealed that he had the same quad injury that “was a hundred times worse” and returned to the court sooner.
Though both sides seem apprehensive of their new surroundings, a change of roster could be what the Spurs and Raptors need to go the difference.
