Toronto Raptors have traded DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and immediately became favorites to get to NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. With this move, Raptors also transformed themselves in some sort of a college program that will look towards the next season like one and done thing. How is that, you may ask?
Well, most college programs lose great players after one year to the NBA and have to start building their roster again. Raptors will lose Leonard in the 2019 agency and will be forced into rebuilding. The thing is, their rebuild will be more painful and lot messier.
After acquiring DeRozan, Toronto Raptors basically went all in on this year. They became insanely better on both ends of the floor with Leonard, which is scary considering they have won 59 games last season. All the things DeMar DeRozan does well, Kawhi Leonard does better. All the things DeRozan lacks, Leonard has covered. From this point of view, the trade was a no-brainer. Also, LeBron James is out of the conference, so the path to the finals will be a lot easier. And once they are there, anything can happen.
But that will be it. Leonard is a free agent next summer and he wants to play in Los Angeles. He wants bright lights, recognition and hefty shoe deals, something San Antonio Spurs couldn’t offer him. Raptors could offer some of those things, but they are not home like LA is.
Taking a one-year rental in Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors told us that they don’t think DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry could ever get it done. So, they took the only path that seemed logical to them. They became stronger in the short term and will give it a go this year. They also took off DeRozan’s $83 million salary off their books, which is a nice bonus.
After the next season wraps up, expect Lowry and Serge Ibaka to head out of the town as well alongside several role players. Then the Raptors will spend some time at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and hope to get lucky with Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, or Chris Bosh type of player and try again.
