In Masai We Trust

He’s gone. It’s official. Six days into 2019 free agency and Kawhi Leonard is now an LA Clipper…wow. As a Raptors fan, I’m torn. I’m not angry, and you shouldn’t be either, but I am sad. Kawhi is the greatest player to ever grace this great franchise, and it will probably be a long, long, while until we see someone like him again.

But hey, that’s okay. We got the Chip. We got the Larry O’ B. We reached the pinnacle of the basketball universe that so many teams and players have never achieved. The country of Canada is on the basketball map now more than ever. The city of Toronto as a basketball city and more has been put on the map, whether Stephen A likes it or not. So don’t be upset and angry Raps fans, we’ve got pieces, and we will be back, but right now we need to thank Kawhi for what he did and focus on the future.

What’s next? Well, it’s pretty obvious. I believe there are two routes.

Run it Back: Add a piece

The Raptors have the same team barring Kawhi and Danny Green. They have the cap to bring in another Super/All-Star and there is a market out there. Wizards guard Bradley Beal is a prime target for the Raptors who are looking to ‘replace’ Kawhi. Beal is an All-Star guard that averaged 25-5-5 on 47% shooting last season on a very bad Wizards team. Beal isn’t even in his prime yet at the age of 26 and is already proving to be an elite scorer and has a definite passion to win. The market for Beal is open, the Wizards are awful and don’t have a need for Beal. If the Wizards could acquire a decent enough haul, I could see a Beal trade going through.

Route 2: Rebuild

No point in beating around the bush. If the Raptors can’t get Beal, then it’s time to face facts. This team won’t be very good. They could get into the playoffs as a 6th or 7th seed if Siakam and Lowry keep up their play, but that’s about it. There’s no point in sitting as a middling team. As a fan, I don’t want to be the next Detroit Pistons. If we know we are going to be bad, let’s be bad, acquire assets, and kickstart this rebuild.

As a fan, I would like to see the Raps try the first option. I would rather not be bad, which is the most obvious sports statement said by a media member since John Madden said anything ever. I think the Raps have a really good squad that is just missing that final piece, and I think Masai can get us that final piece. Keep your chin up, Toronto, there’s big things on the Horizon.