In the summer of 2018, the San Antonio Spurs made a trade involving Kawhi Leonard that continues to impact the team today. By acquiring the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft, the Spurs have added to a long list of assets gained from the transaction that sent Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.
In the original trade, the Spurs sent Leonard and sharpshooter Danny Green to the Raptors in exchange for all-star guard DeMar DeRozan, former 9th overall pick Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick that turned into Keldon Johnson.
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San Antonio attempted to remain competitive with DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge leading the team. They made one postseason appearance, losing in seven games to the Denver Nuggets. After falling short the following two seasons, the Spurs began to rebuild by trading DeRozan to the Chicago Bulls.
DeRozan was traded for Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, second-round picks in 2022 and 2025, and a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2025.
Thaddeus Young was later traded to the Raptors, and in return, San Antonio received a 2022 first-round pick, protected 1-14. This pick turned out to be the 20th overall selection, used to draft former Ohio State guard Malaki Branham.
Although the Spurs have the opportunity to secure another lottery pick in the 2025 draft, it was not directly from the DeRozan trade that they acquired new assets.
The trade involving Jakob Poeltl was particularly beneficial for the Spurs. In 2023, San Antonio traded Poeltl back to Toronto, receiving the Raptors’ 2024 first-round pick, protected in the top six. The pick conveyed to the Spurs when it fell to the eighth spot in the recent draft lottery.
Now, San Antonio heads into the draft with two top-eight picks, providing an excellent chance to draft talented players or make trades to build a competitive roster around Victor Wembanyama.
It’s remarkable to witness how this trade continues to provide the Spurs with valuable assets. Moreover, the ongoing history of transactions between the Spurs and Raptors, which have included three deals since 2018, adds an intriguing layer to this story.
Regardless of whether Chicago’s pick conveys outside the top ten next season, San Antonio has effectively utilized the pieces from the Kawhi Leonard trade to lay a foundation for the team’s future roster construction.
