The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.
Toronto's first-round pick to San Antonio is a protected 1-20 selection. After one year, it becomes two second-round picks.
A trade call with the teams and the NBA league office is scheduled to begin shortly.
Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, right, are the major pieces in a Spurs-Raptors trade. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Toronto and San Antonio have been talking about the trade for two weeks, and several incarnations of packages have been discussed, league sources said. Sources close to DeRozan told ESPN's Chris Haynes that DeRozan met with Toronto officials in Las Vegas during summer league and believed that he would not be traded.
In a story posted on his Instagram page Wednesday morning, DeRozan 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..."
Here's the timeline of events between the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard that led to a trade with Toronto.
Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is taking a significant risk in pursuing the trade. Ujiri will make the deal with a determination that he can sell Leonard on re-signing with the Raptors next summer in free agency, sources said. Toronto would be able to offer Leonard a five-year, $190 million contract next summer. If Leonard left the Raptors, he could sign a four-year, $141 million deal with a team with the available salary-cap space.
Leonard has been clear that he plans to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
DeRozan has three years and $83 million left on his contract, including an early-termination option for the 2020-21 season.
ESPN's Chris Haynes contributed to this story.
You need to be a member of NASTYMIXX to add comments!
Join NASTYMIXX