In hindsight, the Raptors trade for Kawhi Leonard in July 2018 was a no-brainer. Toronto went from paper tiger to legitimate Finals contender over the course of 10 months, now tied 2–2 with the 76ers as the Eastern Conference semifinals return to Toronto on Tuesday night. Leonard has been downright spectacular in the postseason, averaging 32.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 58.7% shooting. Sunday’s 39-point, 14-rebound effort was another masterpiece. Yet Leonard’s brilliant performance in a losing effort illuminated Toronto’s tenuous future. The Raptors may need to reach the Finals to retain Leonard in free agency, but they won’t sniff the East crown unless their star forward continues his run of superhuman performances.
Kawhi Leonard’s One-Man Show Illuminates Toronto’s Tenuous Future
