Raptors Discussion: REPORT: Raptors trade DeRozan, Poeltl, Protected 1st to Spurs for Leonard, Green

[zeke]

Trade grades: Who wins the Kawhi deal, and what's next?

San Antonio Spurs: D

San Antonio must really like DeMar DeRozan.

In trying to understand the final permutation of this Spurs-Raptors deal, rumored since last week, San Antonio valuing DeRozan as the kind of star player other teams were unlikely to offer for Leonard in the final year of his contract is one of two possible explanations I see. Either the Spurs had become convinced that a trade had to be made before training camp because their relationship with Leonard had become irreparable and no other team was willing to offer a compelling package, or San Antonio values this package much differently than I do -- a disagreement that probably centers on DeRozan's value.

Toronto Raptors: A-

For the Raptors, giving up one of their nominal star players, a recent lottery pick and next year's first-round pick makes sense because they're in position to shake things up after getting swept each of the past two years. Perhaps LeBron heading West was all Toronto needed to perform better in the playoffs, but with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers on the rise in the East, I agree with Masai Ujiri's willingness to take a bold risk to be able to get to the NBA Finals this season

If Leonard is healthy and reasonably motivated, the Raptors should be considered the best team in the East and the favorites to reach the Finals. I've already laid out all the reasons DeRozan wasn't as big a factor in Toronto's regular-season success as his scoring average and accolades would suggest. Swapping him for Leonard is a huge upgrade, and the Raptors have somehow also managed to get another valuable two-way wing in Green..

Alongside a healthy Leonard and promising second-year forward OG Anunoby, Green is somehow Toronto's third-best wing player. That gives new Raptors coach Nick Nurse the flexibility to deploy lineups with all three players together that are ideally suited to defend the NBA's best teams

 

[Eyedea]

He could still torpedo the trade by not showing up for his physical I guess.

Where’s Ja?!? Somebody call Ja Rule!!

 

[Mitchy]

An absolute full court press from American media to try and tarnish the Raptors here.

Man, this is amazing,

 

[Swervin81]

Here's the thing. People are forgetting what our cap situation looks like.

JV has 1 year + player option left
CJ has 1 year + player option left
Lowry has 2 years left
Ibaka has 2 years left
DeMar had 2 years + player option left

Regardless, they'd all have been gone by 2020. The only thing the Kawhi trade does with regards to the timeline is accelerate a rebuild by one year. I'm just assuming Kawhi will leave after this year, but that's okay, because we really only had 1 year to be a quality team without launching our tax bill into orbit anyways. This is the year to go all in and then the rebuild is on afterwards when JV and CJ opt out and we trade Lowry (no one's taking Ibaka lol).

 

[Swervin81]

The rest of DeRozan's contract, plus the potential of an extension which seemed more likely than a Leonard extension

The rest of DeMar's contract, which was 1 extra guaranteed year and then opting out. And I'm not about to pay a 31 year old max money in this cap world when the team is in dire need of a rebuild by that point.

 

[zeke]

Demar DeRozan v Danny Green - who is better?

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

An absolute full court press from American media to try and tarnish the Raptors here.

Man, this is amazing,

The American Media:

 

[Eyedea]

Demar DeRozan v Danny Green - who is better?

Well, Green has been wildly inefficient offensively for a few years now. But he’s a stopper, and you can now always have a stopper on when Miles is in (if he’s not being moved for a C).

 

[mapleleafs34]

Man would I love to see LABron defeat the Warriors and then an NBA finals with Kawhi vs LeBron.

 

[Cor]

Demar DeRozan v Danny Green - who is better?

I mean, this seems like a stretch

 

[chaosrevolver]

Well, we know one player seems fine playing in Toronto

 

[Mitchy]

Man, look at all the flexibility the Raptors have on defence. This is going to be fun.

Also, our 3 point shooting was average-ish. We now have two more very good 3 point shooters. This deal is just amazing. Absolutely ecstatic.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

I mean, this seems like a stretch

I think you mean a push.

Zeke is being extreme, but Danny has more Vorp over the last four seasons, mostly due to his value as a defender.

Vorp is not the end all, be all. But his point is well illustrated.

 

[lovemyleafs]

JT AND KAWHI TO TORONTO!

HF & RealGM REJOICE!!

 

[lovemyleafs]

For real though! Tune into the fan 590.....she's breaking down B

Why are y'all so soft???????

loooool i gotta hear this

 

[Jozay]

Lol, so the physicals havent been done yet

 

[Skolman]

Hopefully we can ditch the playoff choker label. Although Demar atleast showed up a bit this year. Lowry on the other hand....

Dude, this just shows you didn't watch the playoffs

 

[HeresJOHNNY]

For someone who doesn't watch much basketball. Please give me a hockey equivalent to this Kawhi character lol.

 

[Mitchy]

I just don't get these people who have suddenly become DeRozan fans after calling him DeTrash and DeFrozen for the longest time.

 

[Pilky01]

 

[Skolman]

Crazy to be trading your franchise player who also loves the city for a guy who wont even be here for long. That is alot to give up for one year of this guy.

You're team is in trouble if DeMar is the franchise player, clearly.

 

[Giuseppe Sallo]

A complete utter meltdown by the us base. I love it!

Masai did the right move, a rebuild will happen and we still have our base. I think if we suck KL gets traded for pieces that could help us get better fast. Look at the leafs, only took them two years to get better,granted the #1 pick excelled our position.

At least Jalen rose agrees and he knows DD wasn't a playoff performer.

What's funny is everyone is saying PG/Kawhi leaving for L.A-- this is what's wrong with the NBA, too many egos. I absolutely hate that mentality. NBA needs parity or this league will suffer!

 

[Phion Keneuf]

For someone who doesn't watch much basketball. Please give me a hockey equivalent to this Kawhi character lol.

Bergeron, but better.

 

[Skolman]

For someone who doesn't watch much basketball. Please give me a hockey equivalent to this Kawhi character lol.

Malkin, when it comes to how good he is compared to his peers.

Style wise, a more offensively gifted Bergeron.

 

[Eyedea]

It’s like people forget DeMar would’ve been the first one to demand a trade if the Lowry deal with the Knicks went through. This is a business, loyalty never lasts.