Leonard adds something the Raptors have only had when they won the title in 2019
Yes, you’ve heard that right — the Toronto Raptors have been in dire need of a true number one option on offense since they won the Larry ‘O Brien trophy seven years ago. In the midst of the ongoing talks on bringing back 2x Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to ‘The 6ix,” a question begs itself — will Kawhi be the same solution the Raptors find after all these seasons? The answer boils down to how willing GM Bobby Webster is to pull
the trigger on a deal that reunites the Raptors with the Klaw.
Best Scorer on the Floor
Leonard is fresh off arguably his best regular season in the NBA thus far, putting up a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals on a consistent 50.5/38.7/89.2 shooting splits. He also managed to silence the doubts regarding his durability after suiting up for 65 appearances, which was good enough to qualify him for the In-Season Awards. Leonard finished seventh in Regular Season MVP voting while bagging his seventh All-NBA selection after being included in the second All-NBA team. Although many may know him as a bona fide playoff riser, recency bias might suggest that he’s past his prime — especially after the play-in game against the Golden State Warriors last April.
In a disappointing season-ender for the Clippers, Leonard tallied 21 points on 8-17 from the field, coupled with an abysmal 1-6 shooting from downtown. He also grabbed 7 boards and dished 3 assists, but turned the ball over five times, committing all of them in the second half. Leonard also managed to put up just six field goals in the last 24 minutes of play and scored just 7 points in the process. Based on this performance, it’s easy to say that his best years as a playoff performer are already behind him, but to declare that means not seeing the whole picture. Two-time Best Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, held Leonard to 0 points in the second half when they were matched up against each other, according to a report by Dean Oliver.
Oliver also notes that Kawhi was a non-factor in the second half. “Kawhi Leonard was worth -8.3 net points in the second half, a half they lost by 13. He was worth -6.9 in a game they lost by 5, a threshold loss,” said Oliver. While stats like these suggest that Leonard’s load was carried by his teammates after the second-half collapse that saw them give up a double-digit lead, neglecting Green’s factor in his underwhelming production discredits the long-time Warrior’s match-up mastery and also the defensive schemes they ran against him.
With all of these factors in consideration, Leonard presents himself as a sort of “mystery box” just like he did seven years ago when questions surrounding his commitment as well as injury recovery were all up in the air. But just as the gamble that former president of Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri, took on paid off with a Larry O’Brien trophy, so will a deal that ships Leonard back to Toronto elevate the team’s ceiling, and I think that’s a wager worth betting on.
Unlocking Scottie, Offloading Pressure
When Scottie Barnes was drafted 4th overall by the Raptors, many were skeptical of his choice since they thought a point guard would have been a better fit, considering Kyle Lowry’s recent departure back then. Now, Barnes operates as a point guard himself, but has the length and two-way ability that makes him a threat not just on playmaking but also guarding the other team’s best player. With Kawhi, I think he becomes just that, a two-way playmaker wing who orchestrates the offense and gets crucial stops on the other end without being relied heavily on producing buckets.
With Brandon Ingram off the floor for the series-clincher, offense was expected to revolve around Barnes. The former Florida State Seminole went off to a hot start, contributing to each of the Raptors’ first 16 points in the opening period. The Cleveland Cavaliers, however, remained in striking distance, lunging in when Barnes was off the floor to deliver their blows. The game started to swing towards the Wine and Gold after Donovan Mitchell’s superb scoring in the early phases of the third quarter. While Barnes finished with efficient numbers after going 8-14 on the field and a perfect 7-7 shooting on the charity stripe, his teammates weren’t nearly as effective as he was as they ended up losing the game, 102-114.
The majority of shots for Toronto came from RJ Barrett, Jamal Shead, and Barnes, with only Barnes having produced at a high clip. While Ingram’s absence could have negatively affected their chances on offense as a go-to crunch-time scorer, he was likewise inconsistent from the field throughout the series. The Raptors’ success hinges on Barnes’ growth as a player, and therefore, management should surround him with pieces that enable him to reach that potential. Having a more consistent number one option on offense, like Leonard, would definitely help him prosper.
What’s the price to pay?
ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that if Leonard were to sign a long-term extension after a trade, it would be with the Raptors. Although Leonard’s preference is to stay in Los Angeles, the Clippers are leaning towards “moving in a younger direction,” as per Charania.
Speculations have been swirling all week that the package would center around either Ingram or Barrett. With none of those players being 25 and under, the Raptors would have to give up young players and draft assets for the 34-year-old All-Star.
Whichever package GM Bobby Webster might put together for a swap that would bring Leonard back to the north side will not only have implications for the directions of both the Raptors and the Clippers, but this offseason will certainly have repercussions for the Klaw’s legacy in whichever city he decides to suit up for next as he nears the twilight of his career.
