April 2018 Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Kawhi Leonard Approaching Raptors With Open Mind

Aug 23, 2018 1:11 PM

San Antonio Express-News beat reporter Jabari Young has been one of the most plugged in reporters on Kawhi Leonard and he was asked if he believes the Toronto Raptors have a chance to re-sign him.

“Based off of me talking to people within his circle, they’re going to go into this thing with an open mind and give this thing every last opportunity to work," said Young on TSN. "And at the end of the day, if that’s the case, it would be great if he stays. Obviously, I think part of his mind, yes, let’s keep it real: I think he still feels like L.A. might be the destination, but the same time, he plans to go into this thing with an open mind, giving it every single shot in the world to make it work.”

Leonard contended he wanted to spend his entire career with the Spurs just a few months before he requested a trade.

Ben Rohrbach/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kawhi Leonard Still Prefers To Sign With Lakers, Clippers

Aug 21, 2018 9:07 AM

Kawhi Leonard's preference for his 2019 free agency is to sign with either the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers, according to sources.

Leonard was traded by the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in July.

The Raptors can sign Leonard to a five-year, $190 million contract next summer, or a four-year, $141 million deal with a team with max cap space.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Raptors Hire Jeremy Castleberry As Player Development Coach

Aug 20, 2018 9:45 PM

The Toronto Raptors have agreed to hire Jeremy Castleberry as a player development coach.

Castleberry previously worked for the San Antonio Spurs as a video coordinator.

Castleberry played basketball with Kawhi Leonard in high school and at San Diego State.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kay Felder Agrees To Partially Guaranteed Deal With Raptors

Aug 20, 2018 9:21 PM

The Toronto Raptors have agreed to sign Kay Felder to a one-year, partially guaranteed deal.

Felder will compete for Toronto's 15th roster spot.

Felder was drafted in the second round in 2016 and the pick was bought by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Felder split the 17-18 season with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons.

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Kay Felder, Toronto Raptors, Raptors 905, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League Teams

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Bruce Bowen Won't Return As Clippers' Announcer Following Leonard Comments

Aug 13, 2018 9:24 PM

The contract Bruce Bowen as a television analyst with the Los Angeles Clippers won't be renewed due following comments that were critical of Kawhi Leonard.

Bowen was under contract with Fox Sports West, but the Clippers have significant input into the hiring of broadcasters.

"I think there's nothing but excuses going on," Bowen told Sirius XM Radio on June 22. "First, it was, 'Well I was misdiagnosed.' Look here: You got $18 million this year, and you think that they're trying to rush you? You didn't play for the most part a full season this year. And you're the go-to guy, you're the franchise, and you want to say that they didn't have your best interest at heart? Are you kidding me?"

The decision is believed to be related to the Clippers' expected pursuit of Leonard in free agency in 2019.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kawhi Leonard To Play At San Antonio With Raptors On Jan. 3

Aug 10, 2018 3:32 PM

Kawhi Leonard will return to play at the San Antonio Spurs as a member of the Toronto Raptors on January 3rd.

The Spurs traded Leonard to the Raptors in July.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Kawhi Leonard Publishes Letter Thanking San Antonio

Aug 9, 2018 9:21 AM

Kawhi Leonard published an open letter in the San Antonio Express-News several weeks after his trade from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors.

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San Antonio,

I have been going back and forth the last few weeks trying to figure out the right things to say, and it comes down to two simple words: THANK YOU!

My family and I want to say THANK YOU to the entire Spurs organization and the people and fans of San Antonio.

THANK YOU to every one of my teammates I’ve played with over my seven years in the NBA.

THANK YOU Pop I’ll always be grateful for my growth under your guidance.

THANK YOU to the fans! There is not a more passionate or dedicated fan base than what I’ve witnessed in San Antonio.

Through all the ups and downs – I’m glad there were many more ups! – I’ll never forget what we have shared and accomplished together.

While I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my career, I’ll always remember the city and the people of San Antonio! THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

– Kawhi Leonard

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Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Greg Monroe Agrees To One-Year, $2.2M Deal With Raptors

Aug 6, 2018 3:51 PM

Greg Monroe has agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million deal with the Toronto Raptors.

Monroe finished last season with the Boston Celtics.

Monroe was previously traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Eric Bledsoe trade.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Greg Monroe, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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RealGM Radio: Tim Bontemps, Jared Weiss On The Atlantic Division

Aug 1, 2018 12:31 PM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post (@TimBontemps) and Jared Weiss of The Athletic (@JaredWeissNBA) go in-depth on the NBA’s Atlantic Division.

They discuss how the Celtics, Raptors, 76ers, Knicks and Nets fared in the off-season and predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

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Tags: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, RealGM Radio

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