Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto Raptors triggers Eastern Conference outlook debates

The NBA has cleared the path for the Toronto Raptors to acquire veteran forward Kawhi Leonard following the resolution of a cap circumvention scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers. As the trade nears completion, analysts are evaluating whether the addition of Leonard will allow the Toronto Raptors to overtake the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings. The projection for the team relies heavily on the physical health of Leonard, who has not played more than 55 games in any season since suffering an ACL tear four years ago. Skeptics point to his limited recent availability and the lingering effects of the scandal as potential obstacles to on-court success. Observers and team analysts continue to debate if the talent upgrade is sufficient to secure a higher rank than the Boston Celtics during the upcoming regular season.

• 7:36 PMYahoo Sports — Will the Toronto Raptors be better than the Boston Celtics with Kawhi Leonard?