The repercussions of the Kawhi Leonard trade in the summer of 2018 are still reverberating within the San Antonio Spurs organization today, a fact that might surprise many. By securing the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft, the trade continues to contribute to the array of assets the Spurs have amassed since parting ways with Leonard and Danny Green, who were traded to the Toronto Raptors.
In the original transaction, the Spurs exchanged Leonard and Green for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick, which ultimately became Keldon Johnson. Despite efforts to remain competitive with DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge leading the team, the Spurs’ postseason success was limited, culminating in just one playoff appearance and eventual rebuilding efforts. This transition began with DeRozan’s departure to the Chicago Bulls.
DeRozan’s trade brought in Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, and future draft picks, including a top-ten protected first-rounder in 2025. Subsequent transactions saw Young traded to the Raptors, yielding the Spurs a 2022 first-round pick, which became the 20th overall selection, used to draft Malaki Branham.
However, it wasn’t solely the DeRozan trade that bolstered San Antonio’s assets. The trade involving Jakob Poeltl to the Raptors during the 2023 deadline saw the Spurs acquire Toronto’s protected 2024 first-round pick, ensuring San Antonio two lottery picks if the Raptors’ selection fell within the top six. As fortune would have it, the pick landed at the eighth spot, providing the Spurs with another valuable asset.
With two top-eight picks in hand, the Spurs now have a prime opportunity to draft promising players or explore trade options to enhance their roster, particularly around rising talent Victor Wembanyama. This ongoing saga underscores the enduring impact of the Leonard trade and the strategic maneuvering by the Spurs’ front office.
Btw, the Kawhi trade still isn’t closed. The No. 8 pick SA won today stems from that deal. The running tally of what the Spurs got for trading Leonard:
*Keldon Johnson
*Malaki Branham (via Thad)
*No. 8 overall in June (via Poeltl)
*Chicago’s 1st & 2nd next year (via DeMar)— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) May 12, 2024
The saga between the Spurs and Raptors continues to unfold, with the possibility of another first-round pick for San Antonio next season, depending on the performance of the Chicago Bulls’ pick. Despite the initial adversity surrounding the Leonard trade, the Spurs have adeptly utilized the assets acquired to lay the foundation for a promising future roster.