New Raptor Leonard’s public statement short on details
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard’s first public statement since being part of a blockbuster National Basketball Association trade last month is full of thanks but short on explanations.
The newly acquired Toronto Raptors forward thanked everyone imaginable in San Antonio in a statement given to the San Antonio ExpressNews on Thursday but did not expand on the reason for his departure from the Spurs.
Leonard, obtained by
Toronto along with Danny Green for DeMar
DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick, thanked the Spurs organization, coach Gregg Popovich, all of his teammates without naming any, and the team’s fans in a seven-paragraph statement.
“I have been going back and forth the last few weeks trying to figure out the right things to say, and it all comes down to two simple words: THANK YOU,” the statement says.
The 27-year-old native of Los Angeles has yet to speak publicly since the trade, which came at his request after a tumultuous 2017-18 season in which he was limited to just nine games because of an injury to his right quadriceps.
The diagnosis and treatment of that injury seemed to drive a wedge between Leonard and the Spurs organization that led him to suggest a change of teams would be appropriate.
Shortly after a meeting between Leonard and Popovich, the Spurs moved the two-time NBA defensive player of the year to the Raptors.
Leonard has passed the physical exam with Toronto necessary to finalize the trade and has met with team president Masai Ujiri, general manager Bobby Webster and head coach Nick Nurse.
He has not yet spoken to the Toronto media and is unlikely to until much closer to the Sept. 25 opening of training camp.