This Day in History: The Kawhi Leonard Trade

On this day, back in 2018, the Toronto Raptors made the most significant trades in their history, acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from the San Antonio Spurs. Fans were excited about the trade, although nervousness over his lingering injury and the removal of fan-favourite DeMar DeRozan lingered, but no one could have predicted what was about to happen. Under Kawhi’s leadership, the Raptors would go on to win their first-ever NBA Championship in 2019. This year marks the third anniversary of that historic moment, and this trade represented a shift for both the Raptors, and the NBA's "superteam" mindset.

When the trade was announced, many fans were unsure of what to expect from Kawhi, who had missed most of the previous season’s games due to a partial tear in his right ACL. But he quickly put all doubts to rest, leading the team in scoring and taking the Raptors to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. His addition significantly changed the team’s odds of winning the championship that year, as the Raptors had previously only advanced as far as the Conference Finals in 2016.

As the playoffs unfolded, Kawhi’s impact on the team became even more apparent, especially in the Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. He put up 35 points and 9 rebounds in Game 5, helping the Raptors battle back from a 2-0 deficit. He followed it up with a 27-point performance in Game 6, sending Toronto to their first-ever NBA Finals.

The NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors was no easy path, but Kawhi never faltered. Throughout the series, he averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists and was named Finals MVP for his impressive efforts. With his uncanny ability to perform at his best under pressure, he proved to be the key piece that the Raptors were missing to bring home the NBA championship.

Kawhi's presence on the team also elevated the performance of his teammates, as other players stepped up their game. Fan favorite Kyle Lowry became an All-Star, while Pascal Siakam was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. The entire team rallied around Kawhi’s leadership, and it showed in their play on the court.

At this point in the NBA, teams believed that "superteams" were the only way to win an NBA championship. The Golden State Warriors recently added Kevin Durant to the greatest regular season team of all time, and many other teams followed suit with this strategy; the Houston Rockets paired up Chris Paul and James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets were a few years removed from mortgaging their future for the Celtics' aging stars (before acquiring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in a similar fashion), and many other organizations paired up stars in the hopes of winning a championship. While many teams still have this mindset, the Toronto Raptors showed that a team that is well-built and methodical in their approach and takes risks when necessary can succeed, and Kawhi Leonard helped them show it. 

The Kawhi Leonard trade made all the difference for the Raptors, giving them the final piece of the puzzle they needed to become NBA champions. His presence on the team impacted not only their title odds but also the morale and performance of his teammates. And on that unforgettable night in 2019, Leonard and the Raptors made history, winning their first-ever NBA Championship after years of disappointment. This trade will always be remembered as a turning point in the Raptors’ journey to the top of the basketball world.