Toronto Raptors Were Unaware Of Kawhi Leonard Trade Halt Possibility

July 13, 2026 - 11:36

The Toronto Raptors front office was reportedly caught off guard by the possibility that their blockbuster trade for Kawhi Leonard could have been halted. According to sources familiar with the deal, the team did not anticipate any scenario where the San Antonio Spurs would pull the plug on the negotiations.

When the Raptors sent DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected first-round pick to San Antonio in July 2018, the trade was widely seen as a high-risk gamble. Leonard had requested a trade and was coming off a season limited by a quadriceps injury. The Raptors were betting that a change of scenery and a year in Toronto could convince him to stay long-term.

What the Raptors apparently did not know was that the Spurs had considered halting the trade entirely if certain conditions were not met. The possibility of a last-minute collapse was never communicated to Toronto's front office. This revelation sheds new light on the precarious nature of the deal, which ultimately paid off when Leonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019 before leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.

The lack of awareness on Toronto's part underscores how much hinged on trust and timing between the two franchises. While the trade worked out for the Raptors, the behind-the-scenes uncertainty could have changed the course of the franchise entirely.