Kawhi Leonard can help Scottie Barnes reach new heights to catch up with draft rivals

The Raptors got lucky when Scottie Barnes fell to them in the 2021 NBA Draft. He is one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league and a well-rounded offensive player as a great passer and strong scorer. His playoff run this year promises to be just the first taste of the next level for him as a scorer. 

Barnes has firmly established himself as one of the best players in his draft class alongside fellow top-four picks Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley. While Raptors fans are well aware of how good Barnes is, he still has some catching up to do in terms of accolades and team success. Barnes is a two-time All-Star and made the All-Defensive Second Team this year. Cunningham, meanwhile, is a two-time All-Star and has two All-NBA selections on his resume, including a first-team nod this year. Mobley is just a one-time All-Star, but he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 and made two All-Defensive First Teams.

Mobley, who, unlike Barnes and Cunningham, isn’t the best player on his team, has enjoyed the most playoff success so far. He’s been to the playoffs four times already and got as far as the Eastern Conference finals this year. Cunningham took the Pistons to the second round this year in his second playoff appearance. Barnes, meanwhile, hasn’t made it out of the first round yet. 

That should change if Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto. 

The Raptors can go on a deep playoff run with a healthy Kawhi Leonard

The Raptors are stuck in an incredibly awkward situation as they wait for the results of the investigation into the Clippers’ alleged salary-cap circumvention and the extent of Kawhi Leonard’s involvement, if it happened. Nevertheless, reporting from Raptors beat reporters and Zach Lowe maintains that both sides are confident that the deal will eventually go through as planned—when that will be is a big question, though.

One thing that’s not in question is the Raptors’ potential with a healthy Kawhi Leonard back in the mix. The Raptors need a true go-to scorer next to Barnes, who can elevate his scoring, but already has to do so much on both ends that he needs some help, and Leonard can be just that. Moreover, Leonard fits the Raptors’ defensive identity well. 

If Leonard is a Raptor and can play heavy minutes in the playoffs, Barnes has a great chance to get out of the first round for the first time in his career—and go much further than that. 

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