Spurs Trade Anniversary: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green Sent to Raptors

The Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs have been shaped by this trade for the past five years.

Arguably, one of the most notable days in San Antonio Spurs franchise history took place five years ago today, July 18, when the team traded franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard and sharpshooter Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors.

The trade sent both franchises, which had been on opposite trajectories for the previous decade, into a whirlwind, for better or worse.

In exchange for Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 Finals MVP, and Green, who remains third in franchise history in made 3-pointers (959), the Spurs acquired All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, budding young center Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round draft pick that ended up turning into Keldon Johnson. 

But for as talented as DeRozan was (and still is), his addition resulted in San Antonio being stuck in No Man's Land. The team wasn't good enough to contend for a title but also was also just talented enough to teeter on playoff contention, thus eliminating the Spurs from a real chance at a high draft pick.

Still, DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge helped lead the Spurs to the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, where they took the No. 2-seeded Denver Nuggets to seven games.

But we know the rest of this story.

With DeRozan out of the picture, Leonard led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA title, securing his second ring and second Finals MVP.

The Spurs have since moved on with the selection of Victor Wembanyama, who is set to be the team's next big star since Leonard. But Spurs fans would be lying if they said it didn't hurt to see Leonard and Green winning a title with Toronto after previously being leaders on a San Antonio team that seemed destined for a sixth title.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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