We’re rewinding here, folks, to a point I briefly touched on in a recent piece. But now, at the start of September, we have a massive bombshell that wasn’t revealed when I explored this angle in that earlier article. The NBA has concluded its salary-cap circumvention investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard, handing out a mega punishment that includes fines and, more importantly, the loss of five first-round picks for LA between 2029 and 2033.
While that punishment is a devastating blow for the franchise and its fans, on the Raptors’ side, there’s a sense of relief — likely clearing the way for their previously arranged Kawhi Leonard trade to go through. Since the NBA chose not to suspend Kawhi or nullify his contract, the biggest obstacle has been cleared. Aside from some league formalities and further discussions, it’s only a matter of time before we see the Klaw back in Raptors threads.
And while Raptors fans are buzzing with excitement for Kawhi’s imminent return, the general feeling among Toronto’s East rivals might not be so elated. After all, it’s a foe getting better than they were prior, and in the competitive NBA landscape, I doubt any rival franchise would be thrilled to see a significant upgrade on the other side.
But even in Toronto’s bold effort to reunite with a 35-year-old Kawhi, constant hold-ups galore, and controversy — it’s still viewed with a highly optimistic outlook. Even if his Clippers stint was filled with more letdowns than triumph, Kawhi’s recent breakout season only boosts his appeal, and it seems he's ready to wrap up his Hall of Fame career in Toronto.
I called it the “Kawhi effect” or the “Kawhi experience” as Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast referred to it, widely seen as the massive factor that could sway the Raptors’ chances of winning. It might sound far-fetched to put so much faith in one player’s arrival to change the tides, but we are still talking about Kawhi Leonard here. This exact point was also referenced recently by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon in an emergency episode of The Hoop Collective.
East rivals likely on alert as the uncertain Raptors–Kawhi trade nears completion
MacMahon said during the show on September 3 (YouTube link here): “Listen, Kawhi's arrival at least gives the Raptors reason to hope that they can be a legitimate contender. They weren't going to be without getting a guy like that. Listen, the Eastern Conference teams do not want this trade to happen. The Raptors improve in this trade and maybe Kawhi is hurt all year and plays, you know, 20 games, but like there's at least — the ceiling is significantly higher with Kawhi Leonard in a Raptors uniform.”
The Knicks still hold the top spot in the East as the recently crowned NBA champions, but they face a serious game contender in the 76ers, who made ambitious moves this summer to acquire Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and a host of supporting pieces (Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and draftee Labaron Philon). These additions bolster an already talented core of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.
However, the Raptors are just as much a threat to that upper echelon of East teams and the wider field of hopeful contenders — and it’s more or less solely because of this Kawhi swing. As MacMahon mentioned, even if he's not fully available, having Leonard on the roster keeps Toronto’s rivals on alert — with Toronto’s expected defensive dominance as a key point of focus. Likewise, as an upcoming piece will explore, Kawhi’s impact extends to his underrated boost as a three-point shooter for this team.
This is yet another example of how many in the basketball world recognize how impactful such a move can be. It could drastically improve the Raptors’ chances, shifting them from a somewhat middle-of-the-pack outlook to a more favorable footing near the top, simply by taking another leap of faith with Kawhi Leonard.
Add us as a preferred source on Google