Kawhi Leonard Returns to Toronto: This Isn't Just a Cute Reunion, These Raptors Are Legitimate Championship Contenders

There may not be a more fitting way to celebrate Canada Day than by welcoming home a national hero.

Seven years ago, the idea of Kawhi Leonard returning to the Toronto Raptors would have sounded impossible to me. Even a week ago, you could have said the same thing, and I would not have believed you.

After leading the Raptors to their first and only NBA championship in 2019 before departing in free agency for the Los Angeles Clippers, I thought Leonard had chosen California as the place where he would finish his career.

My expectation was that he would spend the remainder of his playing days with the Clippers, or, if he ever left, remain in California with another contender such as the Golden State Warriors. A return to Toronto simply never felt realistic to me.

Now, against all expectations, what seemed impossible to me has happened.

Seven years after his unforgettable championship season, Kawhi Leonard has been traded back to the Toronto Raptors.

According to reports, Leonard was informed by the Clippers that he would not receive a contract extension and was unwilling to play out an expiring contract, so Leonard and the Clippers worked together to find somewhere for him to land and get a new contract.

Although several teams, including the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves, were reportedly interested in acquiring him, Leonard was only willing to commit to signing a long-term extension with either the Toronto Raptors or the San Antonio Spurs. With San Antonio reportedly uninterested in bringing him back, Toronto became his only realistic destination.

Leonard is expected to sign a two-year contract extension that would keep him with the Raptors through the 2029 season.

For Raptors fans, this is an unbelievable moment.

Ever since Leonard left following the 2019 championship, one question has continued to spark debate: Is one incredible season enough to justify retiring his No. 2 jersey and giving him a statue outside Scotiabank Arena?

Despite playing only one season in Toronto, Leonard gave the Raptors and their fans their greatest moments ever with that championship run. Not only did he bring the first NBA championship not only to the Raptors but also to Canada.

That championship run cemented his place in Canadian sports history.

Leonard's legendary 2019 postseason, which included one of the greatest NBA shots ever with that iconic Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers, got the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals. While he certainly had an outstanding supporting cast, Leonard was unquestionably the driving force behind the Raptors' championship run.

Now that he is returning for what is expected to be multiple seasons, the debate surrounding his legacy feels much easier to answer.

His No. 2 jersey will for sure now eventually be retired by the Raptors, and it would be surprising if he does not receive a statue outside Scotiabank Arena after his career concludes. If that statue is built, the obvious choice would be immortalizing that unforgettable buzzer-beater against the 76ers.

However, legacy discussions can wait until retirement.

The focus now should be on what this means for the current Raptors.

This should not be viewed as some cute reunion. This deal makes Toronto instantly a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

Although plenty can still change throughout the offseason, there is already an argument that the Raptors deserve consideration as an early favourite to win the East.

This new NBA continues to operate in an era defined by parity, and ironically, Toronto's 2019 championship helped usher in that trend.

On paper, teams such as the New York Knicks or Boston Celtics may look better, but the Raptors are built to become one of the most difficult teams in the league to match up against with how deep this team is, especially on the wings. With young talent like Colin Murray-Boyles and Ja'kobe Walter, I think they will only get better around Leonard.

But more importantly, as Toronto starts to get increased national attention across both Canada and the United States, more fans will begin to appreciate just how good Scottie Barnes has become.

Barnes possesses the playmaking ability to legitimately function as a full-time point guard in this league despite being a 6'8 forward. His passing vision and playmaking skills have allowed him to learn how to orchestrate an offence at a high level, making "Point Scottie" a viable option for this Raptor team.

Pairing Leonard alongside Barnes has the potential to create one of the league's premier wing duos.

In fact, I believe there is a strong case that the Leonard-Barnes duo could ultimately become better than the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George pairing that spent several years together with the Clippers.

And if Barnes continues to develop at this pace, I really don't think that will be a hot take.

While Barnes occasionally struggles to create consistently in half-court situations, Leonard remains one of basketball's elite isolation scorers and shot creators. Their skill sets complement each other so well.

Although Leonard may no longer be capable of playing elite defence every night during the regular season, a healthy Kawhi has repeatedly shown that he can still elevate his defensive intensity when the playoffs arrive.

Combined with Barnes' skillset, Toronto without a doubt has one of the best and most versatile duos in the NBA.

R.J. Barrett also deserves mention as an important part of Toronto's foundation.

Barrett elevated his play during the Raptors' seven-game playoff series against the Cavaliers this spring, even if inconsistency has remained part of his overall game.

And while I don't think he ever fully lived up to the expectations that he had after being selected third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, he has steadily improved since arriving in Toronto.

Maybe watching his former team, the New York Knicks, capture the NBA championship could provide additional motivation as he continues developing his game.

Building around Leonard, Barnes, and Barrett gives Toronto a strong core, but the Leonard-Barnes duo remains the centrepiece.

All this said, there are still areas that require improvement on this team.

For one, I really don't trust head coach Darko Rajaković. Now, he has a real chance to prove my doubts wrong.

At point guard, Immanuel Quickley remains a question mark for me as well. Injuries prevented him from contributing during the postseason, and there are concerns to me about whether he is the ideal long-term starter at point guard for this team.

The Raptors could become an even better team if they acquired a more experienced veteran point guard while shifting Quickley into a sixth-man role.

Another possibility would be using Quickley's sizable contract in a trade to acquire players who better complement this team.

The centre is the major concern for me on this team.

If Toronto hopes to win the Eastern Conference, one of two things must happen.

Jakob Poeltl will need to significantly elevate his level of play, or the Raptors will need to explore trading him and upgrading the position.

Against dominant Eastern Conference frontcourt stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo or just All-Star-level players like Karl-Anthony Towns, the Raptors need to add a more athletic presence in the middle.

But even in their current form and looking around the Eastern Conference, the Raptors now belong in the same conversation as teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and, of course, the defending NBA champion New York Knicks.

When comparing those contenders, one factor separates Toronto from many of its rivals.

Kawhi Leonard remains one of the most trusted playoff performers in basketball.

In high-pressure moments, there are few players in this conference I trust more than Leonard; it may actually only be Jalen Brunson.

Toronto also possesses tremendous size and length throughout its lineup, giving the team the potential to remain one of the NBA's best team defences. While Miami may offer greater interior defence, the Raptors have the personnel to make life miserable for opposing perimeter players and force teams to earn every shot.

This roster may not ultimately reach the level of Toronto's 2019 championship squad, but it is far more than a fun reunion.

The Raptors are making a legitimate championship push.

Maybe the excitement of the moment will settle as the remainder of the offseason unfolds and additional moves reshape the Eastern Conference. Expectations could certainly change before opening night.

Still, it would not be surprising if, one year from now, the Raptors are coming off another NBA Finals appearance.

For Raptors fans, this is an incredible day.

The organization has reunited with arguably the greatest player ever to wear the franchise's jersey, and this time, the partnership is expected to last longer than one magical season.

On Canada Day, the player who delivered Canada's first NBA championship has returned to his NBA home.

It is a fitting celebration for Canadian basketball and an exciting new chapter for a Raptors team that suddenly finds itself among the Eastern Conference's most dangerous contenders.

Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, and the Raptors are once again positioned to chase an NBA championship.