Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, folks, and the Raptors just went all out to make it happen. They shelled out Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected firsts, one first-round swap, and two second-round picks, plus locked him down for two years and a hefty $115 million. This isn’t just some sentimental reunion story; this is the Raptors going absolutely bananas to fix a clear area of need and chase that championship dream they’ve been craving.
Kawhi’s Return Brings Serious Offensive Firepower
Let’s be real, the Raptors needed a scoring punch, big time. Last year, their playoff offensive numbers were rough, shooting a dismal 34.5% out of pick-and-rolls and an even worse 32.4% using isolations. Those numbers were practically rock bottom among playoff teams, according to Synergy Sports. And no, the regular season wasn’t any better. Enter Kawhi Leonard. Even at 35, seven years removed from that epic four-bouncer in Philly and the Finals MVP performance against Golden State, the guy is still an elite scorer. Since he bounced from Toronto in 2019, Kawhi actually ranks first in the NBA in isolation scoring efficiency during the playoffs. When he’s on the floor, his team always has a shot, and that’s exactly why Toronto dropped such a massive haul to get him.
This move is also huge for Scottie Barnes. He finally gets a true co-star who can seriously complement his game. Barnes can still run the show, no doubt, but now he can also set screens for Kawhi, crash the boards, or make cuts off the ball. Part of what makes Barnes so special is his ability to impact the game in so many ways, and Leonard’s presence means he can do even more without having to constantly carry the scoring load. Kawhi addresses the Raptors’ biggest offensive need without forcing them to completely ditch what made them competitive last season. Remember, they were fifth in the NBA in defensive rating, playing a super versatile, aggressive style. Kawhi isn’t quite his prime defensive self, but he’s still really good, and he’s got a bunch of dawgs around him on this roster.
The Championship Blueprint: What’s Still Missing?
But before we start planning the parade routes, let’s pump the brakes just a little. While Kawhi solves a ton of problems, the Raptors still have work to do. They only ranked 10th in Preseason Power Rankings, and it’s for a reason. The original championship team in 2019 wasn’t just Kawhi; it had a deep veteran roster that had been to the playoffs for five straight years. This young group has only been there once. And, let’s not forget the big elephant in the room: Kawhi’s injury history. He only made it to the finish line for the Clippers in three of those seven seasons he was there.
The front office has to fill two holes that the 2019 squad nailed. The biggest question staring them down is, “Who will be Toronto’s Danny Green?” Green wasn’t just a throw-in on that 2018 trade for Kawhi; he was absolutely pivotal to the title run. The guy was burying six 3-pointers in Game 3 of the Finals, including three crucial ones in the final minutes of the third quarter, then chasing down Quinn Cook early in the fourth to block a layup and protect a lead. That kind of two-way impact is what this current Raptors team needs to find if they want to repeat history. The championship goal remains, but the front office has some serious work left to do if they’re gonna win it all in Year 1 of Kawhi, part deux.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply