Fansided

The Raptors can make competitive trade offer for Kawhi Leonard

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Among fairly limited suitors for Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors could swoop in with a very competitive offer.

Kawhi Leonard wants to play in Los Angeles, be it the Lakers or the Clippers apparently, and there’s some buzz he’d commit to the Philadelphia 76ers longterm if they make a trade for him.

But according to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post, the Toronto Raptors have generated buzz as a possible trade destination for Leonard.

With LeBron James gone, the Eastern Conference is wide open, and the Raptors can seize the opportunity to make a win-now move by acquiring Leonard. They may not even care if he’s a one-year rental.

If the Spurs do trade Leonard, they could be facing the idea of a rebuild. That’s uncharted territory for that franchise, and with Gregg Popovich nearing the end of his run as coach getting some proven assets in return would be preferable.

The backcourt tandem of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are Toronto’s two best players. But they are also two potential trade assets, if team president Masai Ujiri wants to shake things up as Nick Nurse moves into the head coaching role. Nurse, for his part, has already cited how he’ll try to challenge and hold DeRozan more accountable on the defensive end.

Two runs through ESPN’s Trade Machine show a couple potential trade offers from Toronto for Leonard.

The Raptors Get: Kawhi Leonard
The Spurs Get: Lowry, OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, a future first-round pick

And No.2:

The Raptors Get: Kawhi Leonard
The Spurs Get: Ibaka and Anunoby, multiple? future first-round picks

It was tough to shape a scenario around DeRozan, as the “machine” even rejected a one-for-one trade for Leonard due to a financial gap. The latter offer, of the veteran big man Ibaka and the promising young wing Anunoby, would have to be sweetened with multiple future first-round picks. A scenario subbing center Jonas Valanciunas for Ibaka to go with Anunoby and a draft pick or two would also work.

The Spurs had rumored interest in Lowry when he was last a free agent. So a trade offer with him as the centerpiece should appeal to them the most, even leaving aside Tony Parker’s departure in free agency.

Next: 10 European players to watch in Las Vegas

It’s unclear if the Raptors have serious interest in Leonard. But it is clear they can make a very competitive offer if they want to, centered around some assets to get the Spurs’ attention.

Home/Toronto Raptors