Everybody loves a reunion show, and that’s exactly what we’re getting seemingly out of nowhere with Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors.The Raptors have agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks (2031, 2033), a first-round pick swap (2027) and two second-round picks (2030, 2033) to the LA Clippers in exchange for Leonard. You may remember Leonard’s last stint in Toronto, when he spent one season there and delivered the Raptors franchise their only championship in 2019. Now Leonard will return seven years later to see if he can help get them back to the top of the Eastern Conference.ESPN first reported that the deal was nearing completion. Is this reunion the right move for Leonard and the Raptors? What does this say for the direction of the Clippers? Let’s bust out the red ink and slap some grades on this trade.Raptors acquire Kawhi LeonardWould you have ever guessed that Leonard would be back on the Raptors? Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense. But with the Clippers unwilling to give him the extension he was looking for, Leonard had to get comfortable playing somewhere else. And by many accounts, he can find comfort in the idea of returning to Toronto. Leonard left Toronto immediately after winning that title to sign back home with the Clippers, but clearly, there is no ill will from either side here.From a basketball standpoint, this makes sense … wait for it … as long as Leonard is healthy.What a reunion with Kawhi means for the RaptorsEric Koreen and Jeshua KiddThe Raptors were average on offense last season, and shot-making came at a premium at times during their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Leonard is coming off one of the best individual seasons of his career, which is saying something. In 65 games, he averaged a career-best 27.9 points per game, and he just missed out on a 50/40/90 season with 50.5/38.7/89.2 shooting splits. His 62.9 percent true shooting was the highest of his career, and Leonard’s accuracy from 3-point range will be highly welcomed for a team that was 21st in 3-point percentage. Defensively, pairing him with Scottie Barnes will create a monster duo. Leonard isn’t the Defensive Player of the Year he once was, but he still can guard anybody in front of him. That will allow Barnes to roam a lot more to create turnovers.
Kawhi Leonard trade grades: Why Raptors reunion is worth the risk
Stop us if you've heard this one before, but this move makes some sense ... if Leonard is healthy.












