Seven years after leading the Raptors to their first and only NBA championship, Kawhi Leonard is officially set to return to Toronto. On the way out is a sizable trade package that includes Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a good deal of draft compensation. But for many it’s a small price to pay to bring back the 2019 Finals MVP.

What the Kawhi trade means for the Raptors

“The Klaw” is now 35 and can’t be expected to bear the same load he did during Toronto’s championship run, but he’s also coming off arguably his best regular season in a Clippers uniform, averaging a career high 27.9 PPG on 51/39/89 shooting splits while playing in 65 games. Things look quite different in Toronto compared to 2019, but that could be exactly what Kawhi needs to thrive.

No longer a roster with a savvy veteran core, Toronto boasts a host of young talent with defensive tenacity (5th in Defensive Rating) and elite playmaking (3rd in Team Assists Per Game). What the Raps truly needed was a closer, and they’ve brought in none other than the man who was able to close a title for the franchise. Kawhi will be someone Scottie Barnes can trust to create his own shot in clutch time, and who should be able to play a versatile role on defence. 

What the Kawhi trade means for the Raptors championship odds

We’ll see how well this trade looks in the long term, but the sports betting oddsmakers have decided it makes the Raptors a force in the short term.

Just last week, ToonieBet had Toronto +10000 to win the NBA championship in 2027. That dropped to +2400 on June 30 when the trade became official. The steam has continued; as of this writing they’re sitting at +2100.

The Raptors are no longer a dark horse hoping to make some noise if things break their way, they’re now a bonafide threat to win the Eastern Conference.

While nobody has a crystal ball, Raptors fans have as much reason for optimism going into this season as they’ve had since winning the title in 2019. Many will call this a short-term move for an aging star, but this marks the return of the face of the greatest year in franchise history.

So if haters ask why the Raptors would do this, simply flip the question: Kawhi not? 

How to bet on the NBA

  1. Log in or register an account.
  2. Navigate to the sportsbook > NBA.
  3. Bet futures, like the Raps to win it all.
  4. During the season, you can bet SGPs, player props or live.

New to sports betting and pumped about Kawhi’s return?

This article explains everything you need to know about sportsbook odds, terms, bet types and tactics. Consider it your betting playbook for the NBA.

Photo courtesy AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh via Canadian Press Images
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