When you think of what the Toronto Raptors are getting by acquiring Kawhi Leonard, a few things come to mind. The Klaw is an elite two-way talent, a true No. 1 option, and the type of proven veteran winner this roster needs at the top. However, what has become a grossly overlooked part of his game and the impact he can have for the Raptors is how elite a three-point shooter Leonard is.
With the NBA concluding its investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers' salary cap circumvention, it appears Leonard will soon be a Raptor once again. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the deal is expected to be completed soon, and now, more than ever, the wheels in my head are turning about all the incredible things Leonard can do for this team. As I mentioned, Leonard gives this team a true No. 1 scoring option, someone who can close out games and lead Toronto to the NBA’s mountaintop.
Last season he finished seventh in MVP voting, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. But maybe the most impressive part of his stat line was his 38.7 percent three-point clip, which he shot while attempting 6.8 threes per game.
For a team with major shooting concerns like the Raptors, Kawhi’s outside shot can’t continue to be something that is overlooked.
Leonard's floor spacing has become underrated
Leonard has never been a bad three-point shooter, with a career outside shooting percentage of 39.1 percent, but it’s just a part of his game that isn’t talked about much. Since it was announced that the Raptors and Clippers agreed to a deal to bring Leonard back to Toronto, people in the media have weighed the positives and negatives of this move. But how elite an outside shooter Leonard is feels like a piece that hasn’t been talked about enough.
The last three seasons leading into his top-seven MVP finish in 2025-26, Leonard shot 41.6, 41.7, and 41.1 percent from three, all on over 4.8 attempts per game. Adding that level of perimeter scoring to this team can’t be overlooked or fly under the radar because of the other great aspects of Leonard’s game.
I understand that when you finish 25th in threes made last season, like the Raptors did, there will always be concerns about how your team is going to space the floor. I also understand that one player can’t alter how an entire team is spacing the floor. However, since the Scottie Barnes era has begun, Toronto hasn’t had a player with as lethal a pull-up three-point game as Leonard has. On top of the pure elite scoring ability, this move gives Barnes someone he can dish it to and watch pull up and splash a three, which is going to add another layer to an already fun Raptors’ offense.
Barnes is at his best when he’s attacking downhill and drawing defenders to create open shots for his teammates. Giving him someone with Leonard’s prowess from deep to swing the rock to on drive and kicks is going to be a massive part of this Raptors offense.
Whether it’s knocking down catch-and-shoot threes, punishing defenders on pull-ups in isolation, hitting big threes when the shot clock winds down, or stopping and popping in the open floor, Leonard is capable of all those things. And when you get to the playoffs, his reliability as a 39.9 percent career three-point shooter in the playoffs is something that this team will desperately need to go deep.
When fans think of Leonard's return, the majority of the focus will be on his championship pedigree, No. 1 option scoring, his leadership, or how he’s an elite two-way talent. While those elements are important if the Raptors are going to make a run at a title, Leonard's ability to punish defenses from deep may end up being the most important piece of this deal when it’s all said and done.
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