Kawhi Leonard Traded To Toronto
6 years agoAccording to multiple sources including Adrian Wojnarowski, a trade between the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors sent Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto, with the Spurs receiving DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and protected 2019 first round draft pick. This is a complete shakeup for both teams, but ultimately sets up Kawhi Leonard for his best season. For years, Leonard's biggest weakness was the fact that he played for the Spurs. He never had complete freedom until late-game situations or in the playoffs, so his regular season numbers should see an immediate bump. Leonard is arguably a better scorer than DeRozan and can consistently space the floor, allowing players like Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valnciunas operate in the paint. DeRozan stepped up his outside game this year, but wasn't able to fall back on it. Leonard on the other hand, is an entirely capable perimeter threat who prefers to drive. The Raptors added two essential pieces to both sides of the ball, but it will ended up hurting overall fantasy numbers across the board. Leonard's willingness to pass is going to force everyone else to play more cautious basketball, meaning Lowry will be getting more "hockey assists" and finding himself in more catch-and-shoot opportunities alongside Danny Green. They won't have down years, but Lowry and Leonard's production will be much more spread out.
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski