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Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard passes the first test in pre-season

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket as he gets past Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of the game at Staples Center on February 26, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Spurs won 119-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket as he gets past Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of the game at Staples Center on February 26, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Spurs won 119-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Kawhi Leonard passed his first test as a member of the Toronto Raptors in pre-season

After missing the majority of last season due to injury with the San Antonio Spurs, all eyes were going to be on Kawhi Leonard’s debut with the Toronto Raptors. Even if it was just pre-season.

So far, so good. In his debut with the Raptors, Kawhi scored 12 points in the 19 minutes that he logged in Toronto’s pre-season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers. There haven’t been any real issues during his short time in Toronto thus far, with the exception of his creepy laugh.

With that said, it’s good that Kawhi returned to the floor without any setbacks with Toronto. The hope is that he can continue to do this, and get better into the regular season.

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"[via ESPN]“Yeah, you know it’s going to take time to get my rhythm, but I felt great being out there and just being able to compete,” Leonard told reporters."

Kawhi is in a contract year and this season, in part, will be about how the Raptors can get Leonard to fall in love with the city and franchise. But that could prove to be difficult, especially if he’s still hard-set on making the move to a bigger city – aka, Los Angeles.

But the Raptors are a real threat to create havoc in the Eastern Conference, with the only real team standing in front of them possibly make a push to the NBA Finals being the Boston Celtics (possibly the Philadelphia 76ers, but they’re an extremely young team which can be difficult to predict).

The Raptors and Kawhi dynamic is going to be an interesting one to keep an eye on – whether it goes extremely good or bad for this team. There is going to be an interesting storyline either way, and it will almost certainly revolve around Kawhi Leonard and his impending free agency.

Enjoy this season, Toronto, for all the ups and downs that are going to come of it.

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