The Raptors are going to be without Kawhi Leonard for a while, and now there’s a clearer picture of just how long that stretch may last.
Chris Haynes reported on NBA TV’s The Association that Leonard is expected to miss about three or four weeks because of swelling in his left knee. Toronto’s plan is to check him again one week after Tuesday’s announcement, but that next look is being treated as a progress update, not a guarantee that he’s close to returning. Imaging showed no acute injury, and Leonard will go through treatment and rehabilitation.
Toronto has already started sorting through the minutes without him. Ja’Kobe Walter was moved into the starting lineup Sunday, while rookie Allen Graves and veteran Kyle Anderson are also in line for more time. The Raptors can patch together the rotation, but there’s no easy way to duplicate Leonard’s production.
Brooklyn is dealing with its own setback after Egor Demin’s leg issue turned out to be more serious than first believed. Demin said he thought it was “nothing serious” and expected to be back later this week, but further evaluation led to a diagnosis of a bone bruise in his right leg, according to the team, via Ian Begley of SNY. He’ll be reevaluated in one week and will miss at least four games, starting Friday against the Pistons.
Demin was hurt in Tuesday’s overtime loss in Boston. He had averaged 9.7 points and 3.0 assists over his first three full games, though he was shooting just 30.8%.
With the Nets still searching for their first win, the backcourt shuffle continues. Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore should see more chances, and Brooklyn will hope the lessons that come with all this young guard play can eventually show up in the win column.
Out West, Walker Kessler didn’t sugarcoat what he saw after the Lakers gave up 136 points to Portland on Tuesday.
“We’ve been relying on our offense a lot,” Kessler said, per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times. “And we have a very, very good offense and a lot of great scorers. But that’s not gonna be the only thing that gets us to win a championship here.”
And when asked about Luka Doncic or Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton had this to say:
“He’s always going to be ready for whenever his name is called,” Sexton said, via Nguyen. “But that just shows a true professional.”
In Other News...
Nets Must Reshape Their Backcourt Again After Egor Dmin Setback
The Nets are already making another adjustment to their backcourt rotation after Egor Dmin was diagnosed with a right leg bone bruise and sent for a re-evaluation in one week. Head coach Jordi Fernndez said Dmin is in good spirits and there is no concern about a long-term issue, but the timing still matters for a team that has been trying to sort out its guard minutes early in the season. Brooklyn also quietly reinforced its long view on the young core by picking up third-year team options for the 2027-28 season on Dmin, Nolan Traor, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf.
For now, though, the immediate focus is on who absorbs Dmins minutes while he sits out at least four games. The setback came during a stretch when Brooklyn was already navigating lineup changes, and it leaves the Nets waiting on both the injury update and the next chance to see how their backcourt pieces fit together once he is cleared to return. [Read more 🡒]
Chaney Johnson Is Forcing A Real Nets Rotation Conversation
Chaney Johnson has spent his second year with the Nets making it harder to ignore what he brings every time he gets on the floor. He has been a steady presence for Jordi Fernndez across summer league, preseason and regular season play after signing a two-way qualifying offer, and his latest showing against Boston fit the pattern of a player who keeps strengthening his case for a longer look.
Against the Celtics, Johnson gave Brooklyn exactly the kind of dependable two-way minutes that can quietly reshape a bench. He has created a real rotation discussion by challenging other players for time, and the ripple effects have already been felt in how Fernndez has been sorting out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Just Sent A Clear Message About Their 2025 Draft Class
The Nets have taken an early step toward locking in the shape of their 2025 draft haul, exercising the third-year rookie scale team options on all five of their first-round picks. Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf are all now set for their 2027-28 salaries, a move that underscores how Brooklyn is already thinking beyond the immediate growing pains of a young roster.
For a team that has leaned heavily into draft capital and player development, the decision sends a clear organizational message about the group it brought in this summer. The next checkpoint comes later, when Brooklyn will have to decide on the quintets fourth-year options by Nov. 1, 2027, a deadline that will help determine how long this class stays together as the rebuild moves forward. [Read more 🡒]