Does Kawhi Leonard make the Toronto Raptors NBA contenders again?

The Toronto Raptors took a big swing when they traded for Kawhi Leonard, and an even bigger one when they doubled down on the move with a massive 2-year deal topping $100m for Kawhi. Odds for the Raptors jumped immediately, and now they are among bettor’s favorites for the Eastern Conference.

It reunites the city of Toronto with one of its favorite sons: the man who, in just a single year with the Raptors, led them to their first and only NBA title, winning his second ring and second Finals’ MVP in the process. Now he’s back, and the supporting cast is arguably even better than in 2019. So are the Toronto Raptors suddenly one of the contenders in the Eastern Conference, and even for the NBA Championship?

Why Kawhi and Toronto are a match made in heaven

It’s best to look at why the marriage between Kawhi and the Raptors works so well through the lens of the team itself. Toronto finished last season 5th in the Eastern Conference, ending the regular season with a 46-36 record, before going out in the playoffs in seven games to the eventual Conference finalists, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Toronto’s strength last year was in their defense, they had the fifth best in the league, but they struggled in big moments and also struggled with offense, especially as they didn’t have a traditional number one option. 

That all changes now that Kawhi has returned. Kawhi Leonard is, arguably, one of the greatest 2-way players in NBA history. He’s a 2-time Finals MVP, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and an experienced number one option who remains one of the best scorers in the league, averaging 28 points per game with the Clippers last year.

Kawhi’s return to Toronto gives the Raptors the primary option they’ve been craving, along with one of the best defenses in the league. It makes sense given how many problems Kawhi’s reintroduction fixes, that the Raptors have become an underrated favorite among bettors. A bet365 Canada review from Canada Sports Betting revealed that bet365 is one of the best places for NBA fans to bet in Ontario, and there’s a seriously persuasive argument to bet on the Raptors this year.

Is Kawhi’s injury a problem?

There is one grey cloud which may make betting on the Toronto Raptors a little more of a risk than it may seem, and that is Kawhi’s injury record. Now, Toronto will be intimately aware of Kawhi’s injury record; he limped through the 2018-19 regular season, and it was a minor miracle that he made it through the playoffs. 

But Kawhi is 7 years older, and his injuries have continued to hobble his career. The season has barely begun, and already Kawhi is out for a few weeks with a knee injury. 

The next few weeks where Toronto has to survive without Kawhi are going to be especially interesting to bettors, but in the long-term, Toronto will be happy to rely on Kawhi during big moments. He’s never let them down before.