The San Antonio Spurs are parting ways with Kawhi Leonard, whom they are trading to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan, US ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski has said.

Toronto has reached agreement in principle to acquire San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard for package that includes DeMar DeRozan, league sources tell ESPN. Trade is larger on both sides, and players are still being informed of their inclusion in the deal. Trade call with league today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018

Leonard, a one-time Finals MVP who was being groomed as a cornerstone of San Antonio's future, had had a falling out with the Spurs, after he demanded to be traded elsewhere, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers.

But the Spurs were determined not to ship him to a Western Conference contender, eventually hooking up with the Raptors — a development that gained momentum over the past 24 hours.

DeRozan, drafted by Toronto in 2009, had played all of his past 9 seasons north of the border and both player and city have grown an affinity toward one another.

DeRozan's immediate reaction — after reportedly being informed during a meeting with team brass at Vegas Summer League he would not be traded — was not positive.

A Kawhi trade to the Raptors for DeMar DeRozan is being finalized, per Woj. Here’s DeMar’s IG story 👀👀👀

A post shared by Sports Blog Nation (@sbnation) on Jul 18, 2018 at 4:42am PDT

In DeRozan, the Spurs acquired a 4-time All-Star who just finished arguably his best season as a pro.

With the acquisition of Leonard, who could remain with the Raptors for just this upcoming season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Raptors clearly got an upgrade, especially if Leonard stays healthy and is focused on playing up to his potential.

Leonard requested a trade after a meeting with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. 

His absence from the team became a point of consternation for Popovich and the Spurs, who didn't have the All-Star forward on the floor for the final five months of the season because of a quadriceps injury.

The Lakers, the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Philadelphia 76ers and others checked on Leonard's availability before Wednesday's trade.

Leonard is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in July 2019. By playing this season with Toronto, the Raptors would have the advantage of being able to pay $49 million more in a max deal than other suitors, such as the Lakers.

Los Angeles and other teams with cap space could offer four years at $141 million; Toronto can reach five years, $190 million.

According to multiple reports, the first-rounder is protected if the Raptors pick anywhere from first to 20th next year. In 2020, the pick would become two second-round picks instead of a first-rounder.

DeRozan has 3 years, $83 million remaining on his contract.

—With a report from Field Level Media/Reuters

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