Maybe the Spurs and Raptors GMs read my post yesterday and decided to get the ball rolling with news filtering through that the Spurs have agree to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick. There has been mixed reactions to this trade with the majority arguing that the Raptors by getting the best player in Leonard win this deal, i am not sure on this and tend to think the Spurs who were left with very few options got the best deal they could have hoped for.
For me this might sound ridiculous but i think the Lakers have won this trade, they have not had to give up any assets and can look to add Leonard in free agency at the end of this season where all roads point to him heading to LA LA Land. Dont get me wrong the Raptors have got an amazing one year rental and would now have to be considered real contenders to come out of the East but once thats all over and Leonard leaves they are looking at a full rebuild. The Spurs have been able to get an all star back and no this wont change the needle in the West and they are still looking at a likely early play off exit but they at least collected a nice asset for later use in terms of trade bait or draft picks when there rebuild inevitably comes.
Grades for the trade:
Raptors: B - It is there swing for the rafters moment and they got the best player in the trade and now will be close to favorites in the East this year, only scores a B as they will be left with nothing at years end.
Spurs - B+ - I think they ended up getting the best for Kawhi that they could of, LA werent interested in playing ball and giving up young players, ditto for Boston and Philly, this was all they had on the table and is better then getting nothing at the end of the season.
Lakers - A - I think the Lakers came out on top here, they will be very very confident of landing him in free agency and keep all there assets.