Kawhi Leonard's Legacy with Toronto Raptors at Stake Once Trade is Finalized

In the last 15 years of the NBA, fans have gotten to see player movement far more than in any other era of the league’s history. This summer has been no different, as superstars like 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, and 22-time All-Star LeBron James have all departed to new franchises through trades or free agency. However, the one trade that fans cannot stop talking about is the proposed deal for seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors. 

Obviously, the commotion is less about the deal's magnitude and more about the ongoing investigation that is preventing it from being completed. Regardless, the two-time DPOY is expected to be present with the team for training camp in Quebec City at the end of next month. With his presence comes a very high bar that he set himself back in 2019. 

When the Raptors traded for Leonard in the summer of 2018, they took a big risk. The former No. 15 pick in the 2011 NBA draft was set to be a free agent just one year later, and he made it very clear that he would not be staying with just any team that traded for him. Former head of basketball operations Masai Ujiri decided to pull the trigger in the most controversial way possible, sending franchise legend DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in return. After all, Leonard completely delivered, bringing the franchise its first-ever championship and winning his second-career Finals MVP along the way. 

This first stint has made for quite the expectation going into next season. It would be easy to assume Leonard is not going to play at the same level as seven years ago, given that he is now 35 years old. However, he averaged his highest points per game (27.9) in a season last year with the Los Angeles Clippers, so he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Obviously, the former San Diego Aztec has suffered several different injuries throughout his seven seasons in Southern California, so the objective will be to maintain his health into the postseason. 

Had Leonard not returned to Toronto, his legacy as a Raptor would have been an interesting one. He can’t be considered one of the greatest of the franchise’s history like Kyle Lowry or DeRozan because he only played one season, but he likely would’ve gone down as the best player to ever play for the Raptors. In just the one season, he earned All-Star, All-NBA Second-Team, and All-Defensive Second-Team selections, was voted top-10 in MVP and DPOY, and won the Finals MVP as the most dominant player in the entire playoffs. Not to mention, he hit one of the most memorable shots in NBA history, as he sank a fadeaway on the baseline over Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to win the series at the buzzer in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Now entering his 16th season, his team again will have championship aspirations that will be centered around his dominant performance on both ends. The Raptors have the ability to be one of the best defensive teams in the league if he can play well next to Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. At the end of the day, they will need him to be their offensive engine, and if he can’t deliver late in games, they won’t be in the postseason for much longer than their first-round exit last season.