2. Convince Kawhi Leonard to Stay
Outside of the Lakers, the Raptors were the big winners of this year’s free agency. They may have lost one of their franchise greats, but at the same time, they made a significant upgrade in who they replaced him with. Over the past 4 seasons they’ve had an astonishing winning percentage of .641%.
However, as is common knowledge among NBA fans and pundits, they’ve flamed out in the playoffs making the Conference Finals only once over that 4 year period.
Kawhi Leonard is a proven playoff performer. He’s a Finals MVP that led his team to to a championship in 2014 – his postseason pedigree is evident. Before being struck with a cruelly timed injury in the 2016-17 Western Conference Finals the Spurs were dominating one of the league’s all-time great teams.
Who knows what he could do for a franchise that has yet to make a Finals appearance in it’s 24-year history?
Retaining Kawhi Leonard should be goal number one for GM Masai Ujiri. He gives them so much upside if healthy not only in the regular season but more importantly, in the playoffs. If recent reports from Amico Hoops are anything to go by then Toronto fans will be salivating.
“Toronto Raptors small forward Kawhi Leonard has been killing it during his summer workouts and “looks remarkable,” a league source told Amico Hoops on Sunday. Leonard is 100 percent and has no limitations in his workouts.”
Los Angeles still remains a constant threat to land Leonard next year, though it’s anyone’s guess where he lands at this early stage. San Antonio Express-News’ Jabari Young reaffirmed that.
“Based off of me talking to people within his circle, they’re going to go into this thing with an open mind and give this thing every last opportunity to work. And at the end of the day, if that’s the case, it would be great if he stays. Obviously, I think part of his mind, yes, let’s keep it real: I think he still feels like L.A. might be the destination, but the same time, he plans to go into this thing with an open mind, giving it every single shot in the world to make it work.”
Next Up: Goal 1