Raptors, Spurs can both claim trade victory
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The early returns are in, and we now have a winner from the summer blockbuster trade between San Antonio and Toronto.
Both sides look victorious.
Sometimes, trades really can benefit all parties involved — and this already looks to be one of those. Kawhi Leonard looks healthy again and has been fantastic in his first three games with the unbeaten Raptors (40), averaging 25.7 points and 9 rebounds per game. Demar Derozan is averaging 29.3 points and 9 assists for the Spurs, with a career-high 14 of those assists coming in Monday’s overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Remember all those questions over the summer? Will Leonard like Toronto? Will Derozan embrace the Spurs?
Asked and answered — so far.
There’s still virtually an entire season left to play, but neither Leonard nor Derozan is showing any sign of unhappiness right now. And that’s why both teams — for now, at least — can say the trade was a very good idea.
The bigger risk was taken by Toronto, who gave up an All-star in Derozan for a former (and now probably current) MVP candidate in Leonard who missed almost the entirety of last season with a leg injury that turned into one of the NBA’S top mysteries of 2017-18. Leonard got a game off for maintenance last week, and his Spurs and Raptors teammate Danny Green — part of the trade as well — says he’s still going to get better.
“He’s still not back to where he normally is, but he’s getting glimpses of it,” Green said. “He’s
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