On this date in 2018, Kawhi Leonard's first Raptors team lost 124-109 in Milwaukee, then went on to win the franchise's only championship. Eight years later Leonard is back but out with a left knee problem, and the club now built around Scottie Barnes is 3-1 heading into Friday's rematch with Orlando.
Milwaukee, Eight Octobers Ago
The 2018-19 Raptors were Masai Ujiri's bet. After the franchise's best regular season, he fired Dwane Casey, traded DeMar DeRozan for Leonard and Danny Green, and added Marc Gasol at the deadline. That group lost 124-109 at Milwaukee on October 29, 2018. It was an easy night to forget in a season that ended with a Finals win over Golden State and Leonard as Finals MVP. He left in free agency that summer. Getting him back took a summer of trade talks that a league investigation put on hold. The investigation ended with a $700,000 fine for Leonard, and the deal returning him to Toronto was finalized September 14, with an extension right behind it. Now 35, he is out with a left knee problem and an estimated return of November 23. Hoopsrumors reported he is expected to miss weeks.
A Line of Franchise Faces
Toronto has usually handed the keys to one player at a time. Damon Stoudamire had them in a 21-61 debut season and Vince Carter through the first playoff series win in 2001. Chris Bosh held them until he left for Miami in 2010, then came DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, whose No. 7 will be retired on January 10. Pascal Siakam's trade to Indiana in 2024 made Barnes the next name on that list. On Wednesday he scored 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting and added three steals and two blocks in a 129-99 rout of the Magic. Josh Lewenberg of TSN noted that Barnes went 9-of-10 in the paint. That is the version of Barnes this roster needs until Leonard returns.
Homegrown, and Taxed
The difference from 2018 is how much of the supporting cast is young and drafted. Hoopsrumors reported October 20 that Toronto picked up 2027-28 options on Ja'Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles. Walter, 22, has gone from 21.5 to 33.7 minutes over his last five games and scored 14 against Orlando. Murray-Boyles, 21, added 10 in 15 minutes. Cheap production like that matters on a $201.2M payroll sitting just above the $200.4M tax line, with Leonard's $50.3M salary on the shelf. Friday's NBA Cup rematch brings a 1-3 Orlando team still without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. After that come road games against the Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets.
When is Kawhi Leonard expected to return for the Raptors?
Leonard is out with a left knee problem, with an estimated return of November 23. Hoopsrumors reported he is expected to miss weeks.
When did the Raptors win their NBA championship?
Toronto won its only title in 2019, beating the Golden State Warriors in the Finals with Kawhi Leonard as Finals MVP.
