After a long wait, the Toronto Raptors have officially shaken the basketball world.
The Raptors have re-acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-rounders (2030, 2033).
Bringing Leonard back to Toronto rekindles some of the magic from the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship run. That was the lone title in Raptors history, and Leonard won Finals MVP for his efforts during those playoffs.
The Raptors look very different now than they did in 2019. Seven years ago, Leonard was alongside Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Danny Green and Norman Powell. None of those players remain on the roster.
Leonard now joins an up-and-coming Raptors squad led by Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead. That young core just guided the Raptors to the playoffs for the first time in four years, but they were unfortunately eliminated in seven games in Round 1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite the early exit, it offered a glimpse of the roster's upside, and you've now brought a two-time Defensive Player of the Year back into the equation.
Leonard is coming off one of the best and healthiest seasons of his career. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on 50.5 per cent shooting from the field and 38.7 per cent from three.
As we wait to see Leonard back at Scotiabank Arena, here's what NBA analysts are saying about the Raptors bringing The Klaw back to Toronto.
If you’re wondering what some of ESPN’s analysts think of the Leonard trade, Brian Windhorst, Tim MacMahon and Vince Goodwill have you covered. The trio went on Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective to discuss whether Leonard still has what it takes to be an NBA star.
None of the three really debated whether Leonard has the skill, but they’re more concerned about whether he’ll be able to stay healthy enough to showcase those skills.
“The idea of assuming that he’s going to be able to play 65 games this year is beyond a risk, I understand that. But he finished seventh in MVP voting. That’s the highest in MVP voting he’s finished since his first year in L.A. So, it was arguably his best year of the decade,” Windhorst said.
Leonard has suited up in 65-plus games in a season just five times in his 14-year NBA career. On top of that, there was the investigation into the Clippers and the punishment handed down on Leonard as well as the franchise.
“There’s going to come a point in the season where we’re going to be talking about how incredible Kawhi Leonard as a basketball player is. And all of that other stuff won’t even matter. He’s not getting suspended. The $700,000 is a drop in the bucket. You won’t see that come into effect in terms of salary cap or how available he is. He’s going to go out there and play and, to some degree, make people forget he was even involved in this nonsense,” Goodwill said.
That optimism is what Raptors fans are looking for, but MacMahon was nowhere near as hopeful. He even went as far as to say he would bet against Leonard appearing in 60-65 games in 2026-27.
“The risk that the Raptors are taking with Kawhi has nothing to do with this entire investigation. It’s just Kawhi Leonard with his durability issues, in his mid-30s, and you’re about to give him a fat extension; like, how is that going to age? You said he’s gonna get on the floor and play and make people forget; I don’t know how often he’s going to be on the floor. Last year it was majority of the time, but that’s the risk the Raptors are taking,” MacMahon said.
The Raptors have lacked a proven playoff closer since Leonard left after the 2019 title, as seen in the seven-game loss to the Cavaliers, when Ingram was meant to be the No. 1 option on offence but struggled to get going.
Leonard has shown time and again that he is among the best when the lights are brightest. The two-time Finals MVP holds career averages of 21.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals in the post-season. NBA.com’s John Schuhmann elaborates on how Leonard changes the Raptors in the clutch moments.
“According to tracking data, only the Indiana Pacers had a lower effective field goal percentage in the last six seconds of the shot clock than the Raptors (43.3 per cent). Leonard should help in that regard. Over the last three seasons, he has an effective field-goal percentage of 53.0 per cent in the last six seconds of the shot clock. That mark ranks ninth among 131 players with at least 250 late-clock field goal attempts over those three years…
“Overall, the Raptors have had the league’s sixth-worst offence over the last three years. If they can continue to flourish in transition while leaning on Leonard late in the clock, they have a chance to have their best offensive season since his one year in Toronto…
“There are 89 players in NBA history who’ve averaged at least 20 points per game over 10 or more playoff games in their career. Leonard (21.5 points per game in 146 playoff games) has the second-highest true shooting percentage among them, and his 62.1 per cent is just a tick below that of Anthony Davis (62.2 per cent), who’s played in less than half as many games (60)…
“Since 2017, Leonard has averaged 28.6 points on a true shooting percentage of 63.2 per cent over 71 playoff games. He’s one of five players in NBA history with at least three postseasons (2017, 2019 and 2021) where he averaged at least 25 points with a true shooting percentage of 60 per cent or better in 10 games or more.
“The Raptors scored a little more efficiently (111.9 points per 100 possessions) than the first-round average as they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. But they can obviously benefit from Leonard’s ability to score efficiently and at a high volume in a primary role.”
As this investigation into Leonard concluded, it may have overshadowed just what Leonard is capable of. ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike is still a firm believer in Leonard's talents, and she wants everyone to realize how dominant he’s been, especially last season.
“I think people sort of, based on the circumstances, have not really highlighted the fact that he was playing some of his best basketball to finish last season. After all-star break, he was averaging 28 points, he was third in leading scoring in the NBA behind (Luka Doncic) and (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). So, he was doing his thing on the floor, and now Toronto gets a certified go-to scorer.
“This is a team that has been known — their identity has been defence. And you look at Kawhi helping this young core, they’re going to lean on him for leadership and how to win, but also to take the next step because they finished fifth in the East and they want to be in the mix. And I’ve been saying this all summer long, it’s an arms race in the East, and now the Toronto Raptors are certainly there.
“And speaking to his proficiency last year, scoring 57 straight games where he had 20 points, tied for the all-time record with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now he’s back in Toronto, and they’re going to look to him to really bring them home, especially in that clutch time category.”
When the NBA finalized its investigation into the Clippers and Leonard for salary-cap circumvention, Leonard was mostly left unscathed. He was only forced to pay $700,00, while the Clippers were handed a lofty punishment.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year, the team was fined $30 million, and they had to forfeit five first-round picks. Other members of the front office are also facing bans.
The NBA seems to think Leonard had little to do with the whole scam, but Stephen A. Smith isn't so sure he agrees, as he shared on First Take.
"I think it's a damn shame. I think it's a travesty of justice. The fact that this man caused all the problems that he caused. Yes, certainly, Ballmer and the Clippers can't be absolved, we get that part. But for him to cause all the trouble that he's caused for this organization and to walk away with nothing more than having to surrender $700,000 worth in restitution is a crime...
"He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus, got his money and left the country. I mean, damn, how much better can it get than that?
Smith reminded everyone of 2019, when Leonard only signed with the Clippers after forcing them to acquire Paul George from OKC. L.A. gave up future MVP Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a multitude of draft picks, with one turning into Jalen Williams.
The Thunder used those assets to win an NBA championship, while the Clippers have no success to show for the trade.
"The Clippers have nothing to show for it but the loss of at least eight first-round picks, no maneuverability ever until the year 2034 and this man is going to the Eastern Conference, and he is going to be a contender."
