A Wednesday morning deal ensured that the Toronto Raptors roster will have a decidedly different look this upcoming NBA season. In addition to head coach Nick Nurse now manning the sideline, the Raptors have agreed to trade DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
The deal marks the end of an era for DeRozan’s nine-year tenure in Toronto. Drafted with the 10th overall pick by Toronto in the 2009 NBA Draft, DeRozan came to a Raptors team in a much different position than where it is now.