74 reasons why Kawhi Leonard is staying with the Toronto Raptors
By Go Paolo
10. Team Flexibility with Contracts
As mentioned with all of the team’s picks, the Raptors have plenty of options with what to do moving forward. The combination of draft picks, expiring contracts (Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka), and Siakam and Anunoby still being on their rookie deals gives the Raptors a depth of options.
Do the Raptors flip a combination of picks and expiring deals for another star? Do they turn the run back the entire roster? Do they try something in-between those two extremes?
Toronto has options gives them the ability to tinker with the team according to how Kawhi sees fit.
9. A Full Year to Develop Chemistry with Teammates
Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce weren’t just hating when they said the Gasol trade would potentially mess up the Raptors’ chemistry. It was evident as Gasol struggled on offense and the Raptors, with the exception of Kawhi and Siakam, disappeared for stretches during the playoffs.
But once the team started to gel around the Milwaukee series, the results were magnificent. The Raptors played air-tight defense and were shooting the lights out from three. Kawhi and Siakam were a deadly one-two punch penetrating while Gasol’s playmaking opened up the floor for Toronto.
The Raptors are just hitting their stride. An extra season to develop team chemistry, both on and off the court, could do wonders for both Kawhi and the team.
8. Chance to Defend Title – Making a Statement
An NBA championship is forever. And soon, nobody will remember the “asterisk” that the Raptors won a title over a crippled Warriors team. But Toronto can quell these doubters quickly by winning a second championship over another western powerhouse like the new-look Lakers or Rockets.
There is also an adage that you aren’t a “true champion” until you defend your title. This applies more for combat sports, but NBA teams that win back-to-back chips are on a different level than one-and-done squads. Just ask Kenny Smith.
If Kawhi returns and defends the NBA title with the Raptors, this would elevate him, the franchise, and their championship status to levels that approach…
7. Dynasty Status
Why build a dynasty from scratch when you already have most of the pieces right now? If Kawhi leaves Toronto and heads to the Clippers, he’ll need to assemble a new crop of players. His second-best teammates will be Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell (Maybe Danilo Gallinari, if he stays).
With the Raptors, Kawhi knows his team is good enough to win a championship. And they can still mess around and add more pieces given how fluid their contracts are. Kawhi may have been on the verge of creating another Spurs dynasty if Zaza Pachulia didn’t take him out against the Warriors.
Kawhi is already known as a dynasty killer. Maybe he can start one of his own?
6. Nick Nurse
The underdog story doesn’t end with just the players. Nick Nurse has had a colourful path on the way to an NBA championship. He cut his teeth coaching in the British basketball leagues and had stints with independent leagues before landing the head coaching job with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G-League.
Nurse would lead the Vipers to their second G-League title in 2013 before being hired as an assistant coach with the Raptors. He would be the one to usher in a new offensive scheme for Toronto and would be a breath of innovation and risk-taking.
Throwing a box-and-one against Curry, resetting the way Toronto plays, and unorthodox line-up choices are just some of Nurse’s trademark moves. It shows a coach who isn’t afraid to make a mistake and someone who is progressive. It’s the type of guy you need behind the bench in today’s NBA.