The Toronto Raptors have gone through multiple roster iterations since winning the 2019 NBA championship. After securing their lone title in franchise history, the team was famously unable to retain superstar forward Kawhi Leonard.
Instead, the Raptors have drafted and built around Scottie Barnes, exceeding expectations by securing the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference this past season. Now, as they attempt to recapture some of their championship magic by bringing back the two-time NBA Finals MVP, some believe the potential blockbuster move could propel them near the top of the East.
Kawhi Leonard Could Work Magic With the Raptors Again
Upon Leonard’s 2019 departure, Toronto initially tried to remain competitive with the remainder of its championship roster. However, age and an evolving NBA landscape caught up to the organization, and a couple of years later, it started building around a potential superstar in Barnes.
The two-time All-Star has since become the Raptors’ clear-cut franchise cornerstone and is now surrounded by quality wing scorers Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett. However, as they try to get over the hump, they have once again set their sights on Leonard.
While making an appearance on “First Take,” ESPN’s David Dennis Jr. assessed the significance of Leonard possibly heading back up North. Seemingly fully sold on the move, the analyst predicted the addition would make Toronto an immediate contender.
“This, to me, is the first move of the offseason that could really shake up the NBA, and really redetermine who is at the top of the East right now,” Dennis said. “If the Toronto Raptors get Kawhi Leonard, you’re looking at probably the second-best team in the Eastern Conference because he fits so perfectly.”
One of the main factors for Dennis was the Los Angeles Clippers’ asking price. Given Leonard’s injury history and age (35), LA likely won’t be able to command a king’s ransom in return.
“You’re really only probably going to either maybe lose Ingram or RJ Barrett, depending on who it is. I think Kawhi is a good replacement for them, especially defensively, with a team that was already a top-five defense in the league,” Dennis reasoned.
“If the Toronto Raptors get Kawhi Leonard, you’re probably looking at the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.”@DavidDTSS says Kawhi on the Raptors would “shake up the NBA” 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ARfqjFrwS1
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 29, 2026
While the Raptors ranked fifth in the league in defensive rating, their biggest issue came on the other end, where they finished in the middle of the pack in offensive rating (15th). Dennis pointed to that weakness, believing Leonard would be the perfect antidote after averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game in the 2025-26 campaign.
“They struggled scoring in the half-court and scoring in the clutch. Near the bottom in clutch scoring in the regular season. Who is a guy that can solve all of that? It’s Kawhi Leonard in the midrange with the scoring,” Dennis continued. “He can really raise the ceiling with this Toronto Raptors team.”
All eyes are now on Toronto to see if it can get a deal done for Leonard amid reported “momentum” in trade talks with the Clippers.
At least on paper, the move could mark a seismic shift in the East and prime the Raptors for a finish near the top of the conference.
