Fansided

The Whiteboard: Kawhi Leonard could decide the Eastern Conference

By Ti Windisch

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors on March 10, 2015 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors on March 10, 2015 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Eastern Conference seems wide open, and Kawhi Leonard coming from the West could decide the first post-LeBron conference champion.

Many of the dominos that are going to fall in the NBA this summer already have. Most of them have, really, with just a few restricted free agents who will likely remain with their teams still on the market. Oh, and Kawhi Leonard.

After making it painfully clear he’s not interested in returning to the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi has been one of the biggest talking points all summer. That’s pretty impressive, considering LeBron James famously switched teams and Paul George famously did not. Still, Kawhi gets in the headlines quite a bit.

LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers could still swing a Leonard deal, but lately there’s more chatter that he could end up out East — specifically with the Toronto Raptors or the Philadelphia 76ers. If LeBron had stayed in Cleveland, it’s possible neither team cares enough to give up major assets on such a risky win-now move.

But with King James out of the picture, all of a sudden Toronto and Philly feel like they’ve finally got a real shot to get to the NBA Finals. They’ll have to get through the Boston Celtics to do so, no small feat considering the Celtics are so stacked they can afford to simply pass on Kawhi and still contend for the Eastern crown.

Even with Boston serving as a bogeyman of sorts, the Raptors and 76ers should feel good about their shot at taking LeBron’s throne over should they acquire Kawhi. Both teams won at least 50 games last season, with Toronto leading the East with 59 wins. All of a sudden an Eastern Conference team with a more-than-solid framework would add an MVP candidate and Finals MVP to their arsenal. That matters.

A lot will depend on Leonard’s health, but let’s not forget that Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward are coming back from injury as well. The Eastern Conference is more open than it’s been in nearly a decade. Kawhi Leonard could swing it shut again if he ends up getting dealt out of the West.

Next: Big men are getting under-valued in free agency

#Content you can’t miss

Read, in the name of Love; Ian Levy defends Kevin Love from the torrent of criticism that tends to crash down on him

The LeBron factor; Ramona Shelburne immaculately details the inside story of LeBron heading to L.A.

Melo is out; Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Thunder have granted Carmelo Anthony the ability to meet with other teams to facilitate his exit from OKC

It’s a me, Mario; Raymond Simms examines Mario Hezonja’s fit on the Knicks

Get excited, Chicago; Luke Askew breaks down Wendell Carter’s strong start to Summer League

Home/NBA