The Eastern Conference continues to add more legitimate contenders in the upcoming season, including the Toronto Raptors. They re-acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster trade.
Toronto shipped Grady Dick, Brandon Ingram and five future picks in exchange for the two-time NBA Finals MVP. It’s a reunion for Leonard and the franchise after they won the title in 2019 against the Golden State Warriors.
The Raptors’ move may seem familiar. They have a solid core and added Leonard, a superstar who has proven that he can lead the franchise to the promised land.
With his addition, the team’s potential starting lineup will likely be Leonard, along with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. The new-look starting five is filled with two-way threats.
Most of them excel on the defensive end and have the versatility to guard multiple positions. Toronto ranked ninth in defensive rating at 113.0 last season, and Leonard is expected to contribute immediately on this end.
Not only is the potential lineup a defensive menace, but it is also equally promising on the offensive end. Leonard’s 27.9-point average will elevate the team’s offense, with Barnes, Quickley and Barrett already averaging just under 20 points per game last season. If they produce similar numbers, it’ll be hard for other teams to defend them, as they would have to pick their poison among the four elite scorers.
The Raptors secured the No. 6 seed in the East last season without Leonard, and he’s an upgrade from Ingram in almost every aspect of the game. They also pushed the Cavaliers to a Game 7 in the first round.
Leonard brings a lot of playoff and championship experience. He is expected to be the team’s primary closer in the postseason, much like his role during the 2019 campaign.
Although the starting lineup still needs more depth to fully compete, the franchise may not be done with its offseason moves. It can add more role players who can help night in and night out against any team in the league.
However, there are two massive ifs for the Raptors to fully reach their ceiling. First, the investigation into Leonard’s alleged circumvention of the salary cap with the Clippers and his health is ongoing. If it doesn’t go as planned, the league could rescind the trade as Toronto likely doesn’t want to be involved in the issue.
Additionally, the health of the seven-time All-Star is another huge question surrounding how deep the team’s campaign can go in 2026-27. While playing over 60 games in two of the last three seasons is a good sign, he has a long injury history.
Darko Rajakovic can take a page from Nick Nurse’s 2019 blueprint, limiting Leonard to 60 regular-season games to prereserve him for the playoffs. If all the stars align, Toronto is capable of making a legitimate run to the NBA Finals next season.
