The Toronto Raptors pulled off a move that got everyone talking. They brought Kawhi Leonard back. That guy who won them a title in 2019 is now back in a Raptors uniform after a trade with the LA Clippers. And naturally, fans are already dreaming about another championship parade.
But Richard Jefferson isn’t ready to hand them the trophy. Not even close.
“I would not call them a contender for an NBA championship,” Jefferson said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “I think that they’re a contender in the East from what we see on paper right now.”
Let’s be clear. Jefferson isn’t saying they’re bad. He’s saying they’re not the favorite. And in a conference with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers all loading up, that distinction matters.
The 2019 Magic Isn’t Walking Through That Door
Look. Kawhi is still Kawhi when he’s on the floor. But the Raptors team around him now looks nothing like that 2019 squad. That team had Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam in his prime, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka. They had a proven defensive identity and depth that went nine or ten deep.
This version of the Raptors is younger. Less proven. They made the playoffs last season but got bounced in the first round by the Cavs. Leonard alone doesn’t automatically flip that script.
Health Is the Whole Story
The big variable is Kawhi’s body. He played 65 games last season. That’s way better than the 38 he managed the year before, so there’s reason for optimism. But the Raptors need him to stay on the court. If he misses 20-plus games again, the margin for error in the East disappears.
Toronto also needs more scoring punch around him. As good as Scottie Barnes is, he’s not the same kind of second option Lowry was. The front office knows this. They’ll probably keep poking around for another piece before the trade deadline.
But for now, Jefferson is keeping it real. The Raptors are a playoff team. A dangerous one, even. But calling them a title favorite? That’s a stretch. At least until we see this thing actually work.
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