While the blockbuster trade between the Spurs and Raptors was formally announced nearly a week ago, the move is now officially official, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who reports that Kawhi Leonard has passed his physical with Toronto. Danny Green and DeMar DeRozan also passed their respective physicals, Windhorst adds.
As we saw last summer when the Celtics and Cavaliers made their Kyrie Irving/Isaiah Thomas mega-deal, a problem with a player’s physical can prevent a trade from becoming official even after the teams have sent out press releases announcing the move.
In the case of the C’s and Cavs, Cleveland’s concern about Thomas’ health dragged out the process for another week and resulted in the Cavs receiving an extra draft pick in the swap. There will be no such adjustments to this year’s trade between the Raptors and Spurs.
Meanwhile, Leonard won’t attend Team USA’s non-mandatory mini-camp in Las Vegas this week, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, who tweets that the star forward will instead use the time to prepare for the transition to his new NBA team.
Leonard’s decision doesn’t come as a surprise. Prior to last week’s trade, reports indicated that he was considering attending the mini-camp to show prospective suitors that he was healthy, but now that he has been traded, that incentive to show up has faded. Considering Leonard missed all but nine games with an injury last season, it makes sense for him to sit out the session.
Stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry also don’t plan on attending this week’s mini-camp, though DeRozan is expected to be present, per Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link). Of course, Team USA and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will also be there and will get a first-hand look at his newly-acquired All-Star.
He’s staying in Toronto long-term.
There is NOTHING to even suggest this as even a possibility.
Yes there is, what you think if Kawhi gets to the Conference Finals he’s going to leave? Highly doubt it. Lowry,OG,Siakam,Ibaka and Kawhi are all superb defenders, the jury is out on Jonas but I think he’ll be better than ever under Nick Nurse.
I see what you did there, stating a strength while forgetting to mention raptors have no shooters outside of kawhi. This team is easily a 3rd place team in th east, your comments on this page are quiet uneducated. Brian collangelos burner?
Kawhi already went to the finals and won, and that wasn’t enough to make him want to stay long term. Evidence and history are against you.
Someone should compile a list of all the moronic things you’ve said, and point out how wrong you are every single time you post.
Lol the hate for Dionis is real. I disagree with him 95% of the time but you guys are ruthless.
They are just mad they don’t know as much about basketball as I do. Says a lot about everyone’s character in here insulting others for no reason. None of these dudes in here would dare say anything they say on here to my face which is the funny part, I understand though and I don’t care if you disagree with 95 percent of what I post you probably don’t know the game like I do either.
Yup. He changed his mind just like that – he no longer desires to be close to home, now prefers cold weather over mild winters, and is willing to forfeit the marketing opportunities of LA for the quiet serenity of Canada. And the best part – he hasn’t even’ played a game yet. Outstanding.
You know Dionis, I tend to agree, assuming he and the Raptors have the season they’re expecting.
He will have his own team and not play second fiddle, will have a shot at going to the finals, and carry a level of anonymity from the US media. Toronto is a major market, but really only hockey players face major media scrutiny here.
The Raptors fans are some of the best in the NBA, and the city is great.
Masaj will treat him like the franchise player there just like Magic is doing with Lebron. No way he leaves Toronto.
He literally had all those things in San Antonio so who knows what he really wants.
Yes
Sorry, but I just cannot see him staying in Toronto beyond this season. To me he is on the way to the Clippers, as he doesn’t wanna, for some reason, play second fiddle to The King.