A fully confident Scottie Barnes got nothing but hype and strong expectations about his new-look Raptors team with the return of Kawhi Leonard.
Like anybody else in the Toronto Raptors, Scottie Barnes can’t even wait to share the court with Kawhi Leonard and usher the franchise to the next step.
Position
SF, SG
Age
35
Height
198 cm
Weight
102 kg
Birth place
Riverside, United States of America
As he was invited for a brief ESPN interview during the Raptors’ NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics, Barnes is simply hyped up about how Toronto would look with Leonard leading the way.
Similar to RJ Barrett’s glowing past comments, Barnes has already expressed excitement about the defensive and dynamic impact Leonard will bring to the table for Toronto.
“It seems very dangerous,” Barnes said about Leonard joining him and the Raptors. “We got people everywhere on the floor, every position that’s ready to guard. Have that mentality. We’re trying to take candy from the baby, essentially.
“We got guys that are everywhere that can do so many different things that help this team out, that’s ready to go out there and play in Kawhi. We know what Kawhi can do out there. Be able to score the ball, guard the ball, steals, active. It’s going to fit right in.”
Scottie Barnes hyped up on Kawhi Leonard Raptors trade
The Toronto Raptors agreed to trade for Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), one pick swap (2027), and two second-round picks (2030, 2033).
Although this blockbuster deal has yet to be made official out of the NBA’s ongoing investigation around Leonard and the Clippers’ infamous salary cap circumventing scandal, the Raptors are fully compelled to embrace their franchise hero back to their side.
Leonard is coming off his best NBA regular season this past 2025-26, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game over 65 appearances. And for him to rejoin a Raptors team that just fell one win away from reaching the Conference Semifinals, Toronto can only feel convinced about seriously contending for a championship.
Leonard already led the Raptors to their first NBA title in an epic one-and-done season in 2019. Now, he has a golden opportunity to run it back and deliver his unfinished business with the help of Scottie Barnes and the blossoming Toronto core.
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