Raptors predicted to trade for Knicks' $220M NBA champion, 6x All-Star to pair with Kawhi Leonard

Raptors predicted to trade for Knicks’ $220M NBA champion, 6x All-Star to pair with Kawhi Leonard originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Toronto Raptors have gone all in this offseason in hopes of bringing another championship to the city. The biggest move of the offseason was the trade for Kawhi Leonard, even though it took a long time for the deal to be finalized.

Leonard is in the later stages of his career, so the Raptors want to build around him now. One positive development from the investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Leonard was that he did not face any punishment.

“The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers to Toronto has been made official after a monthslong delay due to the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention. The teams initially agreed to the deal on June 30, but it was paused while the league investigated allegations the Clippers violated salary cap rules in signing Leonard as a free agent,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.

The Raptors could make another move if they wanted to. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes they should trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.

“The Raptors should put a pin in Karl-Anthony Towns’ extension standoff with the New York Knicks while they’re at it. He isn’t always the defender we witnessed during last year’s playoffs, but the spacing, driving, passing and rebounding diminish the need for Toronto’s offensive upgrade to come in the backcourt,” Favale wrote.

Towns is currently frustrated with his situation in New York, especially after the organization shut down extension talks and informed the media before telling him.

“It was news to me. Very disappointed to say the least. Let’s state the obvious. It’s business, but there is business on the court for us to handle,” Towns said.

If the situation in New York deteriorates further, Toronto should pursue the veteran NBA champion, who would be an immediate game-changer. Towns is already disappointed, and his frustration could grow if extension talks do not resume.

Towns is on a $220 million contract with the Knicks. Pairing him with Leonard would create a formidable duo and give Toronto a strong starting lineup. The starting five would be lengthy and versatile, potentially giving the Raptors another path to championship contention

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