NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Will Kawhi make the Toronto Raptors contenders?

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Will Kawhi Leonard make the Toronto Raptors contenders?

By Kane Pitman | Oct 10, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard

Starter: Danny Green

Depth: Norman Powell, Malachi Richardson

Don’t sleep on the second player acquired by Toronto in the DeMar DeRozan trade.

While the microscope will be firmly locked on the former DeRozan and Leonard, Danny Green provides Toronto with a rock solid option at shooting guard.

While Green’s shooting numbers have dipped the past two seasons, he still commands respect on the perimeter as a 39.5 percent career shooter from deep. Defensively, he looms as another fine addition to a lineup that on paper, is fearsome, to say the least.

Danny Green was asked what sold him on Toronto.
His response, jokingly: “The OVO Jerseys”
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) September 24, 2018

Norman Powell projects to be the lead backup, with the former second-round pick becoming a reliable option off the bench in his three-year career to date.

Malachi Richardson, acquired from Sacramento in February, projects to be a depth piece for the coming season and it’s hard to see minutes in this lineup for the 2016 first round draft pick.