The Raptors stunned the NBA world early Wednesday morning when they traded DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard.
Most woke up to reports that a trade was close to being consummated after NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Haynes reported a deal was close to finished at 4:23 a.m. ET. Details and updates continued to be sent out through the morning, with many first learning the disgruntled Spurs star was heading to a Raptors team that just set a franchise record by winning 59 games in 2017-18.
MORE: Here's what trade could cost Kawhi on next contract
NBA Twitter reacted in several different ways with players in the league expressing shock and analysts breaking down what they think will happen with the new-look teams.
While the #Raptors and #Spurs inch closer to finalizing a trade centered around Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan (per ESPN), DeRozan had this to post on his Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/p1dEFr32NL
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) July 18, 2018
Smh cold game
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 18, 2018
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) July 18, 2018
Just learn from my story! Loyalty is just a word in this game SMH
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) July 18, 2018
Mad respect for @DeMar_DeRozan
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 18, 2018
a classy player who has given his heart to a franchise.
One of the most Loyal player I know.
Giving you away for nothing..@Raptors
Na. They ain’t snake my man like that. https://t.co/NL0b1EUg40
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 18, 2018
I’m hurt bro. I’m hurt. My dog gave that city and organization his heart and soul. He was loyal to the soil and got stabbed in the back.
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 18, 2018
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 18, 2018
No matter what...When I think of Toronto Raptors Basketball... I think of DeMar Derozan...He deserves a statue...🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️💯💯💯
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 18, 2018
😂😂😂😂 good morning pic.twitter.com/fQWoTOHHTz
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) July 18, 2018
Man. Loved everything about @DeMar_DeRozan’s game and passion for the city. Going to miss showing up to the ACC, watch him go for 40 with the smoothest mid-range game in the league. Wishing you nothing but the best my brother. Respect everything you represent and stand for!
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) July 18, 2018
Legend. @DeMar_DeRozan @Klow7 @GerardButler pic.twitter.com/FuCj6GodND
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) July 18, 2018
End of a great campaign in Toronto for @DeMar_DeRozan played hard every game! Welcome to the 6 @kawhileonard stay for a long time !☝🏿👀
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) July 18, 2018
Fantastic leveraged trade for Toronto. The Leonard health & contract uncertainty was surely a factor. But there were a lot of others who could’ve beat this offer had they wanted.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 18, 2018
This is what happens, KAWHI! pic.twitter.com/hyMqwjBpYF
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 18, 2018
Getting the sense Kawhi Leonard didn’t have Raptors sheets on his childhood bed.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 18, 2018
No Raptors player has ever embraced the city of Toronto, country of Canada, or the organization like DeRozan. This is a business & sometimes tough/unpopular decisions have to be made, but hard to fathom losing him for a guy that (reportedly) has 0 interest in playing for the team
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 18, 2018
Toronto is an AWESOME city.
— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) July 18, 2018
If Paul George can stay in OKC, Kawhi Leonard can certainly stay in Toronto.
Taking a quick break from QP to say thanks @DeMar_DeRozan for being such a dedicated @Raptors and embracing Toronto and Canada. I deeply admire your work ethic and your honesty about mental health issues. Will miss you.
— Mike Schreiner (@MikeSchreiner) July 18, 2018
Toronto is this year's Oklahoma City: A good team that knows it's not good enough to win, and needed to roll the dice. Kawhi Leonard is that. Now, the Raps have a year to sell him on the franchise.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) July 18, 2018
How many trades can you recall where both of primary players involved are furious with the move? Kawhi Leonard asked to go home. Not out of the country. DeMar DeRozan has never wanted to leave Toronto.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 18, 2018
Tracy McGrady was on verge of something special, skipped to ORL. Vince Carter hurdled 7-fters, forced his way to NJN. Chris Bosh let his dreads bounce in the post, then chased rings in MIA. DeMar DeRozan embraced everything about being a Raptor; TOR about to drop-kick him to SAS
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 18, 2018