No Philadelphia 76ers fan needs to be reminded of the heartbreak Kawhi Leonard caused during Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. However, Sixers supporters may be forced to address that trauma sooner rather than later, as Leonard's trade to return to the Toronto Raptors is reportedly set to be finalized in the coming days, per Shams Charania. This deal would amplify the arduous task the 76ers have in making it out of the Eastern Conference.
Kawhi Leonard is back to haunt the 76ers
Nobody could predict what Adam Silver and his band of merry men would decide was a fitting punishment for the messy Kawhi Leonard saga. Nevertheless, there was little evidence that the Toronto Raptors would lose out on their key signing because of the Los Angeles Clippers' mishaps.
The Clippers have been slapped with a hefty $30 million fine by the NBA, and five first-round picks (ranging from 2029 to 2033) have been snatched away from them. Leonard was also fined $700,000 for his part in the salary cap circumvention scandal. Of course, this is essentially a delicate slap on the wrist for a star who is being allowed to return home to Toronto.
Philadelphia will be praying that, should the two franchises be destined to meet in the postseason, Leonard will not wield the same offensive brilliance as he did during their extraordinary 2019 Second Round matchup.
During the series in which the Sixers eventually lost 4-3 thanks to a truly ridiculous Kawhi Leonard buzzer-beater shot, the 35-year-old was in simply stunning form. He averaged 34.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, and four assists per game, while shooting 53% from the floor.
Much like Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard's health has deteriorated in recent years, and he is unlikely to dominate opponents so easily when he arrives back in Toronto. What can't be denied is that Leonard's presence in the East makes the 76ers' vision of a championship significantly blurrier.
The Eastern Conference continues to grow in quality
The general NBA consensus is that the West is the more difficult of the two conferences to navigate. While that may have been true in recent years, the pendulum is slowly starting to swing in favor of the East -- much to the despair of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Yes, the Sixers' star-studded roster might be the leading factor in the conference's quality growing, but their opponents clearly aren't willing to let the Philadelphia-based franchise waltz its way to a championship trophy -- especially not the Toronto Raptors.
Even without confirmation of Kawhi Leonard's trade back to the Raptors, the Eastern Conference now boasts a lot of star power. LeBron James somehow landed in Philadelphia; Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson will suit up for the Miami Heat; Paul George could be a perfect fit with the Boston Celtics, and even Peyton Watson bolsters a Cleveland Cavaliers roster that retained the services of former Sixers playmaker James Harden.
Of course, the NBA's reigning champions will also have a serious say in where the Larry O'Brien Trophy lands at the end of the 2026-27 season. Other than Mitchell Robinson leaving the franchise, the New York Knicks look as ready as ever to compete at the higher echelons of the Eastern Conference.
The Philadelphia 76ers have undoubtedly strengthened their roster for the upcoming season, but the return of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors only confirms just how difficult a task the franchise will have as it looks to end its 43-year trophy drought.
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