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Report: Kawhi Leonard told Raptors he didn’t think they were good enough to repeat

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts with Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers after their win in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

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Kawhi Leonard became the first superstar to switch teams immediately after winning a championship.

So, there’s some schadenfreude coming from Toronto after the Clippers lost in the second round. The Raptors made it that far without Leonard.

Josh Lewenberg of TSN:

I don’t know exactly what Leonard said. I can see how someone in Toronto would want to embarrass him and hype up the Raptors.

The Raptors had an excellent season sans Leonard. They won 74% of their regular-season/seeding games, swept the Nets and pushed the Celtics to seven games. Toronto was capable of winning a championship.

With Leonard, the Raptors would’ve been a first-rate contender. Pascal Siakam made tremendous strides, but he was still in over his head as a go-to scorer. Leonard would have made a huge difference in that role, and his could’ve-been supporting cast showed its bona fides.

Leonard obviously left Toronto for multiple reasons. He wanted to be in L.A. He liked other aspects of the Clippers organization.

But to whatever degree he viewed the Raptors as a non-contender, he has egg on his face.

Though he’d never admit regret publicly, I wonder how he actually reflects on his decision last summer.