After being traded to the Toronto Raptors on July 18, 2018, few could have imagined what Kawhi Leonard and his team would go on to have a magical 2018-19 season. Leonard became an immediate franchise legend for the Raptors, making an All-Star appearance and averaging 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

The story became even more magical after Leonard put the Raptors on his back and led them to the first NBA Championship in the franchise’s history after an epic Finals series against the Golden State Warriors. Leonard was named Finals MVP after a monster performance, averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in the team’s six-game triumph.

Now, the future is less clear. Leonard is now an unrestricted free agent and can theoretically sign a contract to play for any franchise he chooses for the next season and years beyond that. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has been as guarded and secretive about his future as always, but many believe that Leonard’s future is not in Toronto.

However, Kawhi Leonard’s best option for his future, without a doubt, is to stay in Toronto and go back to the city that lifted the trophy earlier this month. Why?

Well, for one, why fix what isn’t broken? Leonard won the 2019 NBA Title with the Raptors, and the Canadians will return every single member of their roster from last season with the exception of role player Danny Green. While teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers can talk about their financial flexibility to add free agents, there’s already a roster that’s proven to be capable of winning a title in Toronto.

The Los Angeles Clippers appear to be the Raptors’ primary competition for Leonard’s services, and their roster doesn’t come close to stacking up with Toronto’s.

Of course, the issue of money is also in play, but Leonard would benefit financially from staying in Toronto too. The Raptors are the only team that can offer the forward a 5-year, $190 million supermax contract. Other teams can offer Leonard 4 years and $141 million, but for a player with Leonard’s injury history, he would be wise to take the most possible years and the most money that he can.

For these reasons, plus the immense love that Toronto and the country of Canada already has for Kawhi, the Raptors are the best place where Leonard can end up signing a contract. There’s no reason to let the magic end with the 2019 NBA Title—they can accomplish much more together.

The post Kawhi Leonard’s Best Option is Staying with the Toronto Raptors appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors have traded DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and immediately became favorites to get to NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. With this move, Raptors also transformed themselves in some sort of a college program that will look towards the next season like one and done thing. How is that, you may ask?

Well, most college programs lose great players after one year to the NBA and have to start building their roster again. Raptors will lose Leonard in the 2019 agency and will be forced into rebuilding. The thing is, their rebuild will be more painful and lot messier.

After acquiring DeRozan, Toronto Raptors basically went all in on this year. They became insanely better on both ends of the floor with Leonard, which is scary considering they have won 59 games last season. All the things DeMar DeRozan does well, Kawhi Leonard does better. All the things DeRozan lacks, Leonard has covered. From this point of view, the trade was a no-brainer. Also, LeBron James is out of the conference, so the path to the finals will be a lot easier. And once they are there, anything can happen.

But that will be it. Leonard is a free agent next summer and he wants to play in Los Angeles. He wants bright lights, recognition and hefty shoe deals, something San Antonio Spurs couldn’t offer him. Raptors could offer some of those things, but they are not home like LA is.

Taking a one-year rental in Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors told us that they don’t think DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry could ever get it done. So, they took the only path that seemed logical to them. They became stronger in the short term and will give it a go this year. They also took off DeRozan’s $83 million salary off their books, which is a nice bonus.

After the next season wraps up, expect Lowry and Serge Ibaka to head out of the town as well alongside several role players. Then the Raptors will spend some time at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and hope to get lucky with Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, or Chris Bosh type of player and try again.

The post Opinion: Toronto Raptors, Say Hello to One and Done appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After being traded to the Toronto Raptors on July 18, 2018, few could have imagined what Kawhi Leonard and his team would go on to have a magical 2018-19 season. Leonard became an immediate franchise legend for the Raptors, making an All-Star appearance and averaging 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

The story became even more magical after Leonard put the Raptors on his back and led them to the first NBA Championship in the franchise’s history after an epic Finals series against the Golden State Warriors. Leonard was named Finals MVP after a monster performance, averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in the team’s six-game triumph.

Now, the future is less clear. Leonard is now an unrestricted free agent and can theoretically sign a contract to play for any franchise he chooses for the next season and years beyond that. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has been as guarded and secretive about his future as always, but many believe that Leonard’s future is not in Toronto.

However, Kawhi Leonard’s best option for his future, without a doubt, is to stay in Toronto and go back to the city that lifted the trophy earlier this month. Why?

Well, for one, why fix what isn’t broken? Leonard won the 2019 NBA Title with the Raptors, and the Canadians will return every single member of their roster from last season with the exception of role player Danny Green. While teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers can talk about their financial flexibility to add free agents, there’s already a roster that’s proven to be capable of winning a title in Toronto.

The Los Angeles Clippers appear to be the Raptors’ primary competition for Leonard’s services, and their roster doesn’t come close to stacking up with Toronto’s.

Of course, the issue of money is also in play, but Leonard would benefit financially from staying in Toronto too. The Raptors are the only team that can offer the forward a 5-year, $190 million supermax contract. Other teams can offer Leonard 4 years and $141 million, but for a player with Leonard’s injury history, he would be wise to take the most possible years and the most money that he can.

For these reasons, plus the immense love that Toronto and the country of Canada already has for Kawhi, the Raptors are the best place where Leonard can end up signing a contract. There’s no reason to let the magic end with the 2019 NBA Title—they can accomplish much more together.

The post Kawhi Leonard’s Best Option is Staying with the Toronto Raptors appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors have traded DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and immediately became favorites to get to NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. With this move, Raptors also transformed themselves in some sort of a college program that will look towards the next season like one and done thing. How is that, you may ask?

Well, most college programs lose great players after one year to the NBA and have to start building their roster again. Raptors will lose Leonard in the 2019 agency and will be forced into rebuilding. The thing is, their rebuild will be more painful and lot messier.

After acquiring DeRozan, Toronto Raptors basically went all in on this year. They became insanely better on both ends of the floor with Leonard, which is scary considering they have won 59 games last season. All the things DeMar DeRozan does well, Kawhi Leonard does better. All the things DeRozan lacks, Leonard has covered. From this point of view, the trade was a no-brainer. Also, LeBron James is out of the conference, so the path to the finals will be a lot easier. And once they are there, anything can happen.

But that will be it. Leonard is a free agent next summer and he wants to play in Los Angeles. He wants bright lights, recognition and hefty shoe deals, something San Antonio Spurs couldn’t offer him. Raptors could offer some of those things, but they are not home like LA is.

Taking a one-year rental in Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors told us that they don’t think DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry could ever get it done. So, they took the only path that seemed logical to them. They became stronger in the short term and will give it a go this year. They also took off DeRozan’s $83 million salary off their books, which is a nice bonus.

After the next season wraps up, expect Lowry and Serge Ibaka to head out of the town as well alongside several role players. Then the Raptors will spend some time at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and hope to get lucky with Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, or Chris Bosh type of player and try again.

The post Opinion: Toronto Raptors, Say Hello to One and Done appeared first on SportzBonanza.