The Toronto Raptors are a potential business partner for Kawhi Leonard



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The Toronto Raptors appear to be participating in Kawhi Leonard's sweepstake.

According to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post, the Raptors are generating buzz as a potential commercial destination for the San Antonio Spurs All-Star:

[19459004"TheTorontoRaptorsalsoGenerateaUnionofPotentialityfortheLeonardwith LeBron James out from the Eastern Conference, perhaps the president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is ready to fences and move DeMar DeRozan or Kyle Lowry in such an agreement. "

The Raptors are obviously in a pretty situation now that LeBron James has finally left the Eastern Conference. LeBron had tormented the Raptors in the past three seasons, eliminating them from playoffs in each of the last three years. The 2017-18 elimination was the most painful given that the Raptors held first place in the East and were quickly swept away by an extremely vulnerable Cleveland Cavaliers squad in the semifinals.

But now, James is officially released from the equation, the East is there for the taking. As a result, the Raptors have a legitimate chance to take over from the Eastern Conference and to access the finals of the NBA for the first time in their franchise history.

Toronto could be motivated The couple DeRozan / Kyle Lowry has not yet managed to win any success in the league. Getting rid of Lowry's three-year contract, worth $ 100 million, in return for Leonard could be the shot that catapults the Raptors to the top of the East compared to others contenders such as Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. the same article as if the Sixers offer Markelle Fultz for Leonard, it would be difficult for any other team to complete their bid:

"The Philadelphia 76ers have always remained at the top of the list of teams expected to land Leonard. There is a clear link between franchises with coach Brett Brown, the longtime badistant of Gregg Popovich, who now heads the Sixers, and the fact that Philadelphia is in the Eastern Conference. and that the Sixers have the talent to make a deal – such an agreement will probably depend if Philadelphia makes Markelle Fultz available. "If the Sixers do, it will be difficult for another team to complete their bid."

Leonard remains the top target deeply in the free agency, despite having a year left on his agreement with the San Antonio Spurs. Although he is limited to just nine games in 2017-18, Leonard is highly coveted due to the fact that he was the best two-way NBA player in 2015-16 and 2016-17. In fact, he finished in the top three MVP players in each of those two seasons

The question is how much the teams are willing to give up for a player who does not want to play. did not really play. two seasons and with all the concerns about his quad injury? The Sixers do not want to give up 20-year-old Fultz or their other kids in Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers do not want to give up Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram in exchange for Leonard. If the Raptors succeed in making a miracle for Leonard by abandoning DeRozan or Lowry, they might have a chance to overtake the Celtics for supremacy in the Eastern Conference this season

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