The Toronto Raptors got the deal over the finish line, and Kawhi Leonard is now returning to the franchise he helped lead to the 2019 NBA Championship.
Given that the Raptors sent out All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, recent lottery pick Gradey Dick, and a package of draft capital including two first-round pick, this deal was not free. In light of what it cost and what it means moving forward, the question has to be asked: how should this trade be graded?
The answer is easy. The Raptors deserve an A for this trade.
The Raptors won the negotiation
When trading for a star player, most teams get themselves into hot water. They are so enamored at the possibility of landing a franchise-changing star that they give up everything plus the kitchen sink.
Take the Miami Heat. They just traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo a week ago, but gave up nearly all of their young players and prospects, plus most of their draft capital, and ate the contract of Bobby Portis. They now have a team not ready to contend around Giannis and no assets or money to fix that.
Or take the LA Clippers. In 2019, when Kawhi Leonard walked away from the Raptors immediately after winning the title. They traded everything not nailed down to land Paul George to pair with Leonard, and the team has struggled to maintain proper depth around their two aging stars. They are now doing a complete roster reset.
The Raptors avoided that disaster by giving up a modest package for Leonard. They controlled all of their future first-round picks, so giving up two and a swap still leaves them with assets to draft or trade down the road.
And they traded away Brandon Ingram, who was the most overrated All-Star in the league and a problem playing next to Scottie Barnes. There are stlyistic similarities between Ingram and Leonard, but Leonard is the better version in nearly every way and has a pristine playoff track record.
The Raptors have a great roster around Kawhi
The team was already moving past Gradey Dick in their franchise plans, and Ingram was the sore thumb in their core. They retained playoff hero RJ Barrett, rising defensive star Collin Murray-Boyles, future wing starter Ja'Kobe Walter and rookie Allen Graves. They are even keeping backup point guard and professional bulldog Jamal Shead.
Toronto still has problems to solve, from what to do with Jakob Poeltl to considering an upgrade on Immanuel Quickley. But they have a true co-star to pair with Scottie Barnes, and both are two-way superstars. They have real size and experience to weaponize in a variety of lineups. And Leonard is instantly one of the East's best players.
He will need to stay healthy. The Raptors need to add a piece or two. The East is still formidable. But the Raptors went from wannabe contender to a real threat to push the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. And they did so by adding a star and not giving up everything for him.
They did that once before, a modest trade that landed Kawhi Leonard. They just did so again, and Raptors fans hope the outcome is the same.
Grade: A
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