The Toronto Raptors have acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard from San Antonio in a blockbuster deal, sending four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan back to the Spurs as part of the package.
The Spurs traded Danny Green along with Leonard to Toronto for DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick on Wednesday.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, neither Leonard nor DeRozan were expressing enthusiasm for being moved despite being made aware the deal was imminent Wednesday morning. Chris Haynes of ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that Leonard has "no desire to play in Toronto."
The first round pick to San Antonio is top-20 protected. After one year, it becomes two-second round picks.
Leonard has one year remaining on his five-year, $94.3 million contract signed prior to the 2015-16 season and is scheduled to become a free agent next summer.
Leonard's relationship deteriorated with the Spurs' organization after ESPN reported that the 2014 NBA Finals MVP believes the organization mishandled his quadriceps injury and is angry over comments made by head coach Gregg Popovich and teammate Tony Parker regarding his injury as Leonard sat out most of last season. Leonard played in only nine games last season, averaging 16.2 points per game, well below his 25.5 in 2016-17.
DeRozan, 28, has been with the Raptors since being drafted ninth overall in 2009. He led Toronto in scoring with 23 points per game last season.
According to Haynes, DeRozan met with members of the Raptors front office during the summer league and was told he would not be traded. Wojnarowski reports DeRozan was informed overnight of the trade and the point guard posted the following on Instagram story Wednesday morning: "Be told one thing & outcome another. Can't trust em. Ain't no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quit for a little bit of nothing...soon you'll understand... Don't disturb..."
Meanwhile, @DeMar_DeRozan not backing off of claim he was lied to by Toronto regarding a potential trade, per source. Extremely upset.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 18, 2018
DeRozan signed a five-year, $139 million contract with the Raptors in 2016, which runs through the 2020-21 season.
Poeltl has spent two seasons with the Raptors after being drafted in the first round (9th overall) in the 2016 NBA Draft.
The 22-year-old averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
Meanwhile, Green, 31 is a career 40 per cent shooter from three and averaged 8.6 points per game in 70 contests last season with the Spurs.
Green has spent his entire eight-year career in San Antonio.
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