Report: Raptors finalizing trade to acquire Kawhi for package including DeRozan
Kawhi Leonard's wish to leave the San Antonio Spurs appears closer to coming to fruition - a cautionary tale, perhaps, to be careful what one wishes for.
The Spurs are finalizing a deal that would send the disgruntled star to the Toronto Raptors for fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan, among other pieces, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Haynes.
Both franchise wings are reportedly aware a deal could be reached as early as Wednesday, but neither player is keen on the possibility of moving to their respective potential destinations. Haynes reports Leonard has no desire to join the Raptors; the 27-year-old has long been reportedly set on joining the Los Angeles Lakers when he is able to reach free agency next summer.
The two teams have reportedly been discussing the framework of a trade for two weeks, the culmination of nearly a year of growing division between Leonard and the Spurs, the team for which he's been a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 Finals MVP.
Complicating matters, DeRozan was reportedly told he would not be traded when he met with Raptors leadership in Las Vegas earlier this month. DeRozan took to his personal Instagram page early Wednesday morning with messages that appear to allude to the pending trade situation: "Be told one thing and the outcome another. Can't trust em. Ain't no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quick for a little bit of nothing."