I can confidently say that I speak for the entire Toronto Raptors fan base when I say we all just want this Kawhi Leonard trade to go through. What was once the peak of offseason excitement at the end of June has now become the bane of all fans' existence, as a month and some change later, the deal is still on hold. When the deal inevitably goes through, fans should prepare for the roster they see on opening night to be a carbon copy of the one they see after game 82.
That’s an extremely predictive statement by me, especially in a league like the NBA where stars are always moving, and players are being traded left and right. However, Toronto’s cap sheet and future asset pool following the Leonard deal have left Bobby Webster with little to work with if the Raptors wanted to make a midseason move.
This isn’t to say that Toronto will have to make a move come the trade deadline, but it’s nice to have the option. Especially if Kawhi Leonard is suspended or misses time, adding at the deadline and giving the group a little boost could definitely be beneficial.Â
Toronto has backed themselves into a corner
The Raptors are set to be paying Leonard $50+ million, Scottie Barnes $41+ million, Immanuel Quickley $32.5 million, RJ Barrett $29+ million, and Jakob Poeltl $19.5 million next season. Outside of the starting five, the next highest-paid players are sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles at around $6.5 million and 2026 first-round pick Allen Graves at around $4.4 million.
That’s where the issue becomes prevalent.
Let’s say the starting five is clicking at the mid-season mark, but Toronto wants to add another piece to their bench, such as a veteran scorer to take this group to the next level. They likely won’t be able to, because their cap sheet is so top-heavy, and the players with matchable salaries, in CMB and Graves, aren’t ones they’re going to want to move. Sure, you can move further down the cap sheet and look at Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter, who together make around $6.2 million.Â
But then you are talking about trading two key bench contributors and future pieces for a player making $6.2 million? That doesn’t move the needle and likely sets Toronto back long-term.
I’m obviously not trying to doubt this Raptors team's ability before their season even starts or before the Leonard trade is even made official. However, when you look around the league at the 76ers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Pistons, and Hawks, there’s a level of flexibility those teams could have to add at the deadline that Toronto doesn’t. And with how tight the Eastern Conference is projected to be this season, not having the option to shake up this roster without moving a starter is definitely concerning.
Toronto isn’t necessarily under a one-year window with Kawhi Leonard, but he is 35 years old. Entering year one of a contention window without flexibility to improve the roster is a dangerous position to put yourself in if the goal is to return to the NBA Finals with Leonard at the helm.
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