Now that Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, the Raptors suddenly look a lot more dangerous. If Leonard stays healthy, he can push this group from an overachieving young team into something much more serious in the Eastern Conference.
But the real hinge point in all of this is Scottie Barnes. Leonard’s scoring gives Toronto the headline-grabbing star power, yet the deal only reaches its full value if Barnes is outstanding beside him - and maybe even becomes the better player, as Zach Lowe and Michael Pina put it on the September 15 episode of The Zach Lowe Show.
“I think he’s the key to everything in terms of just becoming the Pippen to Kawhi’s Jordan this season,” Pina said.
Lowe answered, “Or something like a complete equal if not in this analogy-no one is Jordan, but is he the superior player this year? That’s how exciting it is.”
Barnes doesn’t have to outshine Leonard for the Raptors to matter in the East. He does, though, have to be excellent - the same kind of force he showed in the playoffs, when his offense jumped to another level and his defense stayed right where Toronto needs it. If that version of Barnes doesn’t show up consistently, Leonard alone may not be enough to lift the Raptors past the league’s best teams.
That’s what makes this such a bold bet on Barnes. He’s already built a strong résumé: Rookie of the Year over Evan Mobley, never below 15 points per game, an All-Star in 2024, and now a player firmly in the All-NBA and All-Defensive conversation. His value comes from being one of the NBA’s most versatile two-way talents.
Then came the playoffs, where he raised the ceiling again. Barnes averaged 24.1 points on very efficient shooting, even from deep, along with 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals. With Immanuel Quickley out and Brandon Ingram struggling through five disappointing games, Barnes took over the scoring burden and helped drag the Raptors to playoff wins, with big help from RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles.
Toronto can’t realistically ask him to play with that kind of attacking edge every night. He has too much to handle as a defender and creator. Still, the Leonard move makes the message clear: the Raptors believe Barnes can sustain enough of that next-level production to make the whole thing work.
In Other News...
Magic Just Made A Development Move Fans Should Care About
The Magics latest development move came with a familiar kind of NBA logic: stock the pipeline with a coach who has spent years around player growth, then trust the rest to follow. Orlando hired Ronnie Burrell to lead its G League affiliate, a move that fits the organizations long-running focus on building depth from within and giving younger players a clear developmental runway.
Around the East, teams are making similar behind-the-scenes bets. Toronto also made coaching staff changes, and one of the names added to the mix is Stephen Silas, while Jeremy Castleberry is back in the picture after previous work that drew plenty of attention around the league. The Raptors know how much value there is in a staff that can connect with young talent, and this kind of hire is often where the next step in that process quietly begins. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Revived A Familiar Kawhi Era Connection
Torontos coaching staff for the 2026-27 season is now set, and one of the more familiar faces coming back is Jeremy Castleberry. A longtime friend and former teammate of Kawhi Leonard, Castleberry also spent time on the Raptors bench during the 2019 championship run, giving this hire a clear sense of history as the organization continues to shape its next chapter.
Stephen Silas is also headed to Toronto as an assistant, adding another experienced voice to the bench. The staff shuffle comes with some turnover, too, as Mike Batiste and James Wade are not returning, leaving the Raptors with a different mix of continuity and new perspective as they move into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Cap Squeeze Just Made One Unlikely Guard Matter A Lot
The Raptors work after landing Kawhi Leonard has shifted from star power to spreadsheet management, with the front office now trying to finish out the roster under tight salary-cap rules. In that kind of squeeze, the value of a cheap, controllable guard climbs quickly, and Jaden Bradley has become a name worth watching as Toronto sorts out its final pieces.
A 2023 second-round pick on a two-way contract, Bradley gives the Raptors another option to keep the backcourt stocked without adding much financial strain. Hes expected to provide depth behind the teams primary guards, and the bigger question now is whether Toronto decides his path should stay limited to that arrangement or open into something more substantial as the roster picture comes together. [Read more 🡒]