Kawhi Leonard trade: Three most overlooked aspects for Toronto Raptors
Nearly everyone has covered the major aspects of the Kawhi Leonard trade. Here are the three most important things that everyone is overlooking.
Superstars in the NBA are rarely traded. When they are, everyone loses their mind. By now there have been a million articles talking about the Kawhi Leonard deal, breaking it down from every angle.
If you’re a Raptors fan you likely have read every possible angle about the deal. How will this improve Toronto next season? How will DeMar DeRozan’s legacy be remembered? Even, what Danny Green brings to the table.
However, despite all you’ve read, you haven’t taken everything into account. Here are the three most underrated aspects of the Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan swap:
The Toronto Raptors have no backup center:
During Nick Nurse’s opening presser he mentioned multiple times he wanted to “modernize” the Toronto Raptors. To most that meant playing smaller, less traditional centers, although no-one was certain how he would accomplish that with the Raptors current roster.
It appears we have our answer. There will be no Jakob Poeltl next season and for the time being there will be no Lucas Nogueira. (It’s still possible they could bring back Bebe, although that feels unlikely).
With Poeltl and Nogueira gone, Serge Ibaka is the team’s new backup center. That shouldn’t be a problem, in today’s NBA and with his advancing age it’s entirely possible that should be Ibaka’s primary position.
It still marks a huge contrast from the season prior. Last year, center was perhaps the Raptors deepest position. Now it’s their weakest one.
Note: Toronto still has four roster spots available so they will likely bring in another center. He will also likely be a minimum salary and receive little-to-no playing time.
OG may be primarily a power forward next season
A fun game is trying to predict the Toronto Raptors starting five for next season. They have multiple options, but there are plenty that include OG Anunoby starting at the power forward.
Positions in the NBA matter less than ever before and Kawhi has the versatility to play multiple, but he is best suited to play small forward.
Where does that leave the Toronto Raptors stud second-year player? My guess would be power forward. Yes, they can stagger their minutes and yes Toronto will experiment with large lineups, but don’t be surprise if OG is spending most of his time at the other forward position.
Protections on 2019 pick
Toronto fans are all (for the most part) expecting next season to go smoothly, and they will likely be right. However, there is a small chance next year goes nuclear. In that instance the Raptors are covered.
If Kawhi remains injured and something goes awry causing Toronto to miss the playoffs, they don’t even lose their pick! The pick Toronto sent to San Antonio is top-20 protected and in the instance things go terribly wrong it turns into two seconds. Masai is a wizard.
Next: Who is Danny Green and what does he bring to the Toronto Raptors?
Bonus: Canada requires a passport to visit and green-card to stay. Canadian government do your thing and keep uncle Dennis stateside for the next 9 moths or so.