Kawhi Leonard Sat the Raptors Opener on a Reconditioning Plan and Scottie Barnes Carries Toronto for Now
By Verdexed NBA Desk
Kawhi Leonard's second stint in Toronto has not tipped off yet. The Raptors held the 35-year-old forward out of Saturday's preseason opener against the Miami Heat in Quebec City, a 129-105 loss, and the team has framed the absence as a planned ramp-up rather than a new injury. Leonard is expected to miss Toronto's first two exhibitions, which likely includes the Oct. 10 game against the LA Clippers in Vancouver.
Coach Darko Rajakovic described Leonard's status as day-to-day on Friday. Leonard has taken part in the drills portion of practice but had not done full-contact work, and he also sat out the team's intrasquad scrimmage. The Raptors have called the process reconditioning after a long summer layoff tied to the delayed trade.
Why the summer was so long
Toronto agreed to reacquire Leonard from the Clippers on June 30, but the deal sat on hold for more than two months. The Raptors paused it on July 9 because of the NBA's investigation into salary cap violations by the Clippers involving Leonard's contract, worried about a possible suspension or a voided deal. The league ultimately fined Leonard $700,000 without affecting his playing status, and the trade was finalized on Sept. 14.
The price was significant. Toronto sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two future first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two future second-round picks to Los Angeles. Ingram has since suffered a partially torn Achilles with the Clippers, which makes the deal look even more lopsided from a health standpoint, though Toronto's side carries its own durability question in Leonard.
What Leonard did last season
The reason fantasy managers care about the ramp-up is how good Leonard was when he played in 2025-26:
| Category | 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Games | 65 |
| Points | 27.9 |
| Rebounds | 6.4 |
| Assists | 3.6 |
| FG% | 50.5 |
| 3PT% | 38.7 |
| FT% | 89.2 |
Those 65 games were a strong total for a player with Leonard's history, and he earned his seventh All-Star selection. The question for 2026-27 is whether a delayed camp and a new team cost him early-season rhythm or games, and whether Toronto manages him with scheduled rest the way the Clippers often did.
Who ran Toronto on Saturday
Without Leonard, Rajakovic started Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Ja'Kobe Walter, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors started 0-for-8 from three and trailed by 21 at halftime.
| Player | Role | PTS | REB | AST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RJ Barrett | Starter | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3-9 FG, 7-8 FT, 2 threes in 17 minutes |
| Scottie Barnes | Starter | 11 | 2 | 2 | 5-11 FG, 3 steals, sat second half |
| Jakob Poeltl | Starter | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3-3 FG, 2 steals, 1 block |
| Immanuel Quickley | Starter | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2-6 FG, 12 minutes |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | Bench | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 offensive rebounds |
| Tyreke Key | Bench | 15 | n/a | n/a | Led Toronto with Barrett |
| Chucky Hepburn | Bench | 11 | n/a | n/a | Second-half minutes |
Barrett, Poeltl and Walter were the three starters who played into the third quarter. Barnes and Quickley sat after halftime. Toronto was also without Jamison Battle (back), Kyle Anderson (bruised right knee) and rookie Allen Graves (groin), all described as minor.
Fantasy fallout
Leonard: The ramp-up itself is not alarming. A player who missed a normal offseason routine because of a trade freeze needs conditioning work, and preseason games do not count. The risk is in the regular season. If Toronto plays it conservatively, early-season back-to-backs are where Leonard managers could lose games. Draft him as a high-end scorer with built-in rest risk, not as a 70-game lock.
Barnes: With Ingram gone and Leonard sidelined, Barnes is the clear hub of Toronto's offense until Leonard is fully integrated. Once Leonard is playing, Barnes' usage likely dips, but his defensive stats (three steals in a half on Saturday) and playmaking role give him a stable fantasy floor regardless of who else is on the floor.
Barrett: He lost Ingram as a competitor for touches but gained Leonard. Barrett got to the line eight times in 17 minutes, which is the part of his game that survives a lower usage role. He fits as a mid-round points and free-throw volume option.
Quickley and Poeltl: Quickley's five-point, three-assist half was quiet. Poeltl was efficient and active defensively, and his role as the starting center looks secure. Murray-Boyles is a deep-league name to watch after nine rebounds off the bench.
Betting angle
Toronto's season-long markets hinge on Leonard's availability far more than on anything that happens in October exhibitions. A cautious ramp-up suggests the team is prioritizing his health over early-season wins, which matters for anyone considering Raptors win totals or Leonard player props. Expect his early-season prop lines to price in limited minutes until he strings together healthy games.
The market will move on the first sign of Leonard in a full-contact practice. Verdexed's regular-season game projections will be at /nba/predictions once the schedule opens.
What to do in your league
Do not panic-drop Leonard down your draft board over a planned absence from preseason games. Do build around the assumption that he will miss time during the season, which means pairing him with durable wing depth. Barnes remains the safer Raptors pick in category leagues because of his steals, assists and rebounds.
In deeper leagues, Collin Murray-Boyles is a speculative rebounding add, and Barrett is worth a mid-round look for points and free throws. Monitor the Raptors' injury notes this week for Leonard's first full-contact session, which is the real green light.
What's next
Toronto faces the Clippers in Vancouver on Saturday, Oct. 10, a game Leonard is expected to miss, and the matchup sends him back against the franchise that just traded him. The Raptors open the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Scotiabank Arena. Rajakovic's comments suggest Leonard should get a few preseason appearances after Vancouver to shake off the rust before then.