The Toronto Raptors are one Eastern Conference team with a different look in 2026-2027. Similar to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors made a big trade swing in the offseason.
A reunion with Kawhi Leonard was formed. Suddenly, the Raptors were seen as a team on the upswing in the Eastern Conference, to be surefire championship contenders. After all, the last time they had Leonard in the building, the Raptors won the NBA Championship.
The Raptors are one of those teams the Sixers simply need to see up close to get an idea of where they stand in the competitive race in the East. Unfortunately, the next meeting between the Raptors and the 76ers might lose some of its juice.
The Kawhi Leonard update we probably could've guessed
Kawhi Leonard is a lot like Joel Embiid. When healthy, he's easily one of the best players at his position. Unfortunately, staying healthy is a challenge. Last year, Kawhi Leonard played in 65 games. It was just the second time in the past nine seasons he did that.
During his final Clippers run, Leonard posted averages of 27.9 points, 64 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals. He was an All-Star, All-NBA, and even had a spot in the MVP race, ranked No. 7 after the voting results were revealed.
The Raptors took a big gamble on acquiring Leonard, and two games in, he's dealing with a setback. Before going down, Leonard saw the court for 26.0 minutes per game. He posted averages of 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Leonard is dealing with swelling in his left knee. While the Raptors did not receive results, which suggest that he's dealing with structural damage, he will take some time off. The exact timeline isn't determined, but Charania reported that Leonard is expected to miss "a period of weeks."
The Sixers and the Raptors will meet four times during the 2026-2027 NBA season. The first meeting is on November 12. If Leonard isn't ramping up and getting ready to return in a little over two weeks, then the 76ers might be stuck waiting for the January 10 meeting with the Raptors on the road to see Leonard in action with his new (old) team.
That's an unfortunate scenario, but there's a slight positive. The Sixers and the Raptors will have a much better idea of who they are as a team and where they stand in the East. At least there's that.
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