Need cover image of Jalen Brunson looking worried with Kawhi Leonard in a Raptors jersey smiling
Need cover image of Jalen Brunson looking worried with Kawhi Leonard in a Raptors jersey smiling
The New York Knicks are probably feeling pretty good about themselves right now.
In case you somehow missed it, New York recently won its first NBA Championship in 53 years. They retained every role player from its championship team other than Mitchell Robinson, who was adequately replaced.
Despite Jaylen Brown and LeBron James arriving in Philadelphia, the Knicks are still favorites, though not everyone's pick, to win the Eastern Conference next season. But what about the new Eastern Conference contender that no one's talking about, the Toronto Raptors? Can they potentially unseat the Knicks and head back to – and win – the NBA Finals for the second time in seven seasons?
Latest on Kawhi Leonard saga
First, the elephant in the room: Kawhi Leonard. Long story short, Leonard was caught receiving payments from a second under-the-table sponsorship deal, which is being investigated for potentially circumventing the salary cap.
Leonard allegedly believes that he will eventually return to the Raptors for the 2026-27 season, according to NBA Insider Jake Fischer. However, whether or not that happens in time for the 15-year veteran to start the season with Toronto is another story altogether. And, as recently as July 30, Ramona Shelburne addressed the situation on ESPN's NBA Today, noting that she hasn't heard any indications that the Raptors have changed their minds.
“I haven't heard [the Raptors] trying to back out,” Shelburne said. “I think the discussion is more of a league-wide discussion.”
Either way, it's fair to assume that the NBA doesn't want to prevent Leonard from going to Toronto as much as they'd like to deter other teams from making these behind-closed-door arrangements in the future. Thus, the Los Angeles Clippers may face penalties. But Leonard could very possibly be free to play for the Raptors.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives past Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives past Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome.
How the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors would impact the Knicks
Assuming the deal goes through, the Raptors will roll out a starting lineup that will include Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl. If Leonard can stay healthy, that lineup could be dangerous given its length and versatility. And it could make some real noise.
But it's not so much a question of whether Toronto can be a playoff contender, but rather whether they're a threat to the Knicks for the Eastern Conference crown. That is far less clear. So much of what put New York over the top last season had to do with synergy, and that's impossible to predict.
However, the Knicks' bench also played a big role in their success. And the Raptors bench is far less proven. New York has a significant advantage, specifically in its reserve guards. Guys like Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet all play specific roles. And they do it masterfully.
New York also dominated the glass last season. They kept that advantage when they signed Andre Drummond. And that advantage will be evident when facing Toronto. Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond should grab plenty of rebounds. Poeltl is the Raptors' only seven-footer. And the Raptors averaged just 42.1 rebounds per game last season—sixth-worst in the league.
So, the Raptors don't appear to pose too much of a threat to the Knicks. But the Eastern Conference will be significantly better next season. And while the Raptors might not be too scary, there are more than enough contenders.
The Philadelphia 76ers' improvements are well-documented. The Miami Heat are much better since adding Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cleveland Cavaliers will be at least as good as last year, if not better. The Indiana Pacers return All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. The Detroit Pistons should be as good as last season before Cade Cunningham suffered a punctured lung. And the Boston Celtics could be dangerous, too.
In total, that makes seven possible Eastern Conference contenders looking to take what is finally the Knicks'. Still, New York must confront them all head-on. And the silver lining is that there is no world-beater they'll face, at least until the NBA Finals when a rematch with the San Antonio Spurs or a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder is all-but-imminent. So, the Knicks can relax for the next few weeks. But soon enough, it will be time to turn their attention to next season. And once the season starts, there are obviously more than enough foes waiting to greet them.