The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors — Kawhi Leonard

On the other side of the DeRozan trade, the Toronto Raptors have themselves a new most important player as well. Even if the Kyle Lowry – DeMar DeRozan Raptors had hit their ceiling, that ceiling could’ve been high enough now that LeBron is out of the East.

Instead of bringing the band back together once again, the Raps decided to get a new coach in the 6 and a new superstar to go with him. Trading DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard makes a lot of sense, but that doesn’t mean it was an easy move for Masai Ujiri to make. DeRozan was the first great Raptor to be drafted by the team without leaving of his own volition soon after becoming a star.

If Kawhi comes back and looks like he did during the 2016-17 NBA season, when he was a legitimate MVP candidate, those hurt feelings will be worthwhile. Winning cures pretty much every ailment after all, and the Raptors have yet to ever make an NBA Finals.

Having the best player in a playoff series is an important and underrated thing in the NBA. For the first time in a very long time, the Raptors will suddenly have a player who is up there with anybody else in the conference. Hell, peak Kawhi is in a tier of his own in the Eastern Conference.

After what was basically an entire season off, though, peak Kawhi might not be in Toronto right now. He might not ever arrive. The Toronto Raptors know that they have Kawhi Leonard, but they don’t know which Kawhi they have. The answer there will define Toronto’s season, and near future.

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