The Toronto Raptors have made their championship ambitions loud and clear, going all-in by trading for Kawhi Leonard after he posted a stellar career-high of 27.9 points per game, earned an All-NBA Second Team nod, and finished seventh in MVP voting during the 2025–26 season.
However, not everyone is sold on the long-term financial commitment. ESPN insider Tim MacMahon has fiercely criticized the Raptors for handing the two-time Finals MVP a lucrative two-year, $115 million extension, labeling the move a massive gamble within an increasingly restrictive salary-cap landscape.
Why MacMahon Calls It a Risky Investment
While acknowledging that Leonard undeniably raises Toronto’s ceiling into legitimate championship contender status, MacMahon questioned the wisdom of paying elite money to a player with an extensive and concerning injury history who is now in his mid-30s.
Pointing out the sheer scale of the contract, MacMahon noted:
“I get why the Raptors did this… but I don’t wanna hear, ‘Oh, it’s $11 million less than the max.’ This is a humongous extension for a player with major durability issues, who’s in his mid-30s. It’s $25 million more than Kevin Durant got. It’s a big, big risk for the Raptors.”
Financial Squeeze and Cap Pressures
The massive price tag on Leonard pushes Toronto’s core financial obligations into dangerous territory. For the 2026–27 season, the Raptors have roughly $173.6 million committed to just five players:
- Kawhi Leonard: $50.3 million
- Scottie Barnes: $41.7 million
- Immanuel Quickley: $32.5 million
- RJ Barrett: $29.6 million
- Jakob Poeltl: $19.5 million (player option)
With the salary cap sitting at roughly $165 million, adding rookie depth, young rotation pieces like Ja’Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles, and veteran presence pushes Toronto’s total payroll to approximately $202.7 million.
This instantly plunges the franchise into the luxury tax (which sits at $200.4 million) before a single game has been played. Operating just below the first apron leaves the front office with virtually zero flexibility to make roster adjustments or absorb additional salary if injuries or holes in the rotation emerge.
High Stakes in Toronto
Leonard has publicly stated that he fully expects to retire in a Raptors uniform, having taken slightly less than the absolute maximum to remain in Toronto. Yet, the pressure on his shoulders has never been higher.
If Leonard’s body holds up and he replicates his dominant scoring form, the financial risks will be easily justified by a deep postseason run. But if durability concerns resurface, the Raptors could find themselves locked into an expensive, inflexible roster with very few escape hatches.
Do you think the Raptors were right to break the bank for Kawhi Leonard, or is his injury history too big of a risk for a team pushing into the luxury tax?
