Scottie Barnes is excited about the Toronto Raptors’ outlook for an obvious reason — the return of Kawhi Leonard to The North.
Leonard, who once led the Raptors to their first-ever (and still only) NBA championship in 2019, is back in Toronto after a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers in September.
The two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player returns to the Raptors with a winning pedigree, notwithstanding his failed tenure with the Clippers. For Barnes, Leonard immediately and significantly raises Toronto’s ceiling.
“He’s Kawhi Leonard… He’s going to help us out in so many different ways,” Barnes told reporters, via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.
“He’s a legend in the game. He’s going to be him and that’s obviously going to raise the roof for our team.”
In the aftermath of the NBA’s investigation into allegations of salary cap-related shenanigans by the Clippers that resulted in Leonard getting fined $700,000, the seven-time All-Star is now just focused on helping Toronto.
When healthy, the 35-year-old Leonard is an elite asset on both sides of the floor and can be considered an upgrade over Brandon Ingram, who was part of the trade package the Raptors sent to the Clippers in exchange for the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The Clippers are a team on the rise and became relevant again by making the NBA Playoffs last season after three consecutive years of missing the postseason.
