The San Antonio Spurs sent shockwaves throughout the NBA when they traded their star SF Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. The full deal included the Raptors receiving Leonard, Danny Green, and five million dollars cash. The Spurs were given DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected first-round pick. Looking back in time, it’s clear the Spurs lost the Kawhi Leonard trade and it’s perplexing that it even happened in the first place.

The Personnel: DeMar DeRozan

According to an interview with ESPN, DeMar admitted to reporters that Toronto had initially told him in the summer, before the 2018 season, that he was not on the trading block. So, it was a crushing blow when they went behind his back to send him to San Antonio, on the opposite side of the continent. So, if you’re the Spurs, why would you trade for a player who doesn’t want to leave their home team? Sure, it’s a professional sport, but it shouldn’t be a surprise when a player eventually wants to leave. After all, they just expressed to reporters they never wanted to join another organization in the first place.

DeMar would spend three years in the silver and black with mixed results. While he did notch a career-best in some stat columns, he was also at odds with himself. In fact, when reflecting on his time in the Alamo City, DeMar said “‘for three years, [he] doubted [himself].’” So, the main piece of the trade for San Antonio had never wanted to be there, then he lost so much confidence in himself, he wanted to get traded out. His wish would get granted in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. Where he would help them make the playoffs and still resides today.

Check out the video above for a fantastic look at his rocky tenure with the organization. But, the Spurs were on the clock to ship the troubled superstar to a team they thought wouldn’t threaten them. However, to everyone’s surprise, Leonard and Green would help Toronto secure their first NBA Championship title in the franchise’s history.

While Leonard’s and Green’s time with the Raptors was short-lived, Leonard left after the season, and the Raptors ultimately got a championship out of the trade. In comparison, the Spurs have failed to make the playoffs since the monumental trade. This current three-year drought of playoff woes is uncommon in San Antonio. The franchise had previously made the playoffs for twenty-two years in a row. In conclusion, the Raptors received an NBA championship out of the duo, but the Spurs found themselves out of the playoffs ever since, and have since lost every player in that deal.

Looking Back In Time

Suffice it to say, the Spurs did not win that trade in any way shape or form. Jakob Poeltl was recently traded, their protected first-round pick now plays for the Boston Celtics G-League team, and DeMar DeRozan is in Chicago. The Raptors climbed to the top of the NBA during their lone season with Leonard. But the question remains, what other offers were on the table for the Spurs? They essentially traded away their superstar for three bucks and a bag of chips. Meanwhile, the Raptors didn’t give up much to achieve success. Yet, the Spurs have had little success since. The fact that Gregg Popovich and the management staff signed off on this trade, and can’t retain talent (Murray, Marjanovic, Poeltl, etc.) just shows the cracks in the base of the beloved Spurs franchise. Paul George made it clear he wanted to join Leonard and the Spurs as early as 2017. Especially with rumors swirling about the Spurs’ recent debacle with estranged guard Josh Primo. If the timeline is correct, it’s amazing that the Spurs are still keeping the head coach employed, let alone the general manager. The fact that they’ve botched the biggest trade in franchise history, can’t retain talent, and are in the crosshairs in a new lawsuit is all the evidence needed for a change of scenery in Alamo City. 

– Zach Espinoza

*photo courtesy of SB Nation*