With all the doom and gloom about the future of the stalled Kawhi Leonard trade back to the Toronto Raptors, a scenario has been presented that would see the Raps actually benefiting from the whole kerfuffle.
The June 30 blockbuster deal that was supposed to send Kawhi back to the team with which he won his last NBA championship is on hold. Both the Raptors and the LA Clippers are awaiting the results of the long, drawn-out investigation into the alleged cap circumvention scandal surrounding the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard.
There have been all sorts of scenarios floated that could put the kibosh on Kawhi's return to Toronto. A full-year suspension or having his contract voided are the two leading narratives that naysayers have referred to. However, local beat writer Michael Grange of Sportsnet says that all the clues suggest that Kawhi will wind up with the Raptors when all is said and done. And even more than that, he lays out a scenario where a certain line of severe punishment handed out by the NBA could actually benefit Toronto in the long run.
But first, hear him out as he tries to put Toronto fans at ease about any potential suspension of Kawhi for a huge chunk of the 2026-27 season:
The… commonly cited risk — that Leonard will face a lengthy suspension for his role in the alleged cap circumvention — is something that almost certainly won't come to pass, a matter than has been under-reported or not reported previously.
#toronto #leonard #raptors #long
The June 30 blockbuster deal that was supposed to send Kawhi back to the team with which he won his last NBA championship is on hold. Both the Raptors and the LA Clippers are awaiting the results of the long, drawn-out investigation into the alleged cap circumvention scandal surrounding the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard.
There have been all sorts of scenarios floated that could put the kibosh on Kawhi's return to Toronto. A full-year suspension or having his contract voided are the two leading narratives that naysayers have referred to. However, local beat writer Michael Grange of Sportsnet says that all the clues suggest that Kawhi will wind up with the Raptors when all is said and done. And even more than that, he lays out a scenario where a certain line of severe punishment handed out by the NBA could actually benefit Toronto in the long run.
But first, hear him out as he tries to put Toronto fans at ease about any potential suspension of Kawhi for a huge chunk of the 2026-27 season:
The… commonly cited risk — that Leonard will face a lengthy suspension for his role in the alleged cap circumvention — is something that almost certainly won't come to pass, a matter than has been under-reported or not reported previously.
#toronto #leonard #raptors #long
2 months ago
