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What Kawhi Leonard’s arrival in Toronto means for the Detroit Pistons

By Brenden Welper

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket between Langston Galloway #9 and Reggie Bullock #25 of the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket between Langston Galloway #9 and Reggie Bullock #25 of the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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For a conference that has recently been gutted of superstar talent, the East is gaining a former Finals MVP in Kawhi Leonard. Here’s what Leonard’s arrival in Toronto means for the Detroit Pistons.

Just when you thought the NBA off-season was cooling down, chaos ensued.

The San Antonio Spurs traded an irritated Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday morning. In exchange, the Spurs (who also sent Danny Green) received DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick.

Now I know what you’re thinking.

“What does this have to do with the Detroit Pistons?”

Well I’m glad you asked.

The Eastern Conference has been hemorrhaging superstar talent over the last several seasons. This has given teams like the Pistons a chance to move up the ladder. Particularly this coming year, with LeBron James deciding to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

A healthy roster should propel Detroit into the playoffs, just as it did in 2016. That was back when the conference still featured players like James, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler, to name a few. Now those three are gone.

Still, Detroit can barely manage to breathe a sigh of relief.

Not only does Leonard become an in-conference foe, he joins a team that just swept the season series against Detroit. Toronto won all four games over the Pistons in 2017-18.

Now the Raptors have added one of the league’s better two-way players, on a team that already finished top-10 in both offensive (113.8 points per 100 possessions) and defensive rating (105.9).

To make matter’s worse, small forward is Detroit’s weakest position. Leonard will easily have the upper hand on the perimeter when facing the Pistons. That goes for both ends of the floor.

While Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, he’s just as dangerous with the ball in his hands. He boasts guard-like skills in a small forward’s body, making him difficult to stop off the dribble. The 27-year-old is also a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter.

Dare him to shoot, and he’ll gladly deliver. Play him too closely, and he’ll drive right by.

With the Leonard acquisition, Toronto has solidified itself (once again) as one of the top teams in the East.

Should the Raptors, like the Celtics, 76ers, and Wizards, continue to give the Pistons trouble, a playoff spot would be far from a given. Detroit had a combined record of 2-13 against those four clubs last season. That’ll have to change.

Leonard or not, Toronto was going to the challenge the legitimacy of this Pistons’ team. Now that’s for certain.

What does the newest member of the Raptors mean for Detroit Pistons?

Next: Can Blake Griffin have a career-year with the Pistons?

Nothing is going to come easy.

Not even in the Eastern Conference.

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