Raptors Head Into Camp Still Waiting on Leonard

Training camp is days away and the Kawhi Leonard trade still isn't settled. The NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules through endorsement deals has dragged through the entire summer, and Commissioner Silver's promise of resolution before the regular season offers cold comfort when camp is opening without clarity on the roster's centerpiece. As I've been noting since early August, the Raptors have been building around a trade that might not stand — and that hasn't changed.

What has changed is the roster around the uncertainty. Malachi Smith signed a training camp deal on August 18, joining Andre Jackson Jr., who came aboard earlier this month. Modest additions, both of them. The front office is filling seats, not solving problems. The backup center situation remains thin, Immanuel Quickley is listed day-to-day heading into camp, and the 20-plus points a night that Brandon Ingram provided last season still has no clear replacement on the books.

Scottie Barnes, Quickley when healthy, and RJ Barrett are capable of carrying a competitive team. But "capable of carrying" and "ready to contend" are different things, and the gap between them is exactly where Leonard was supposed to live. Until Silver's office closes this investigation, the Raptors are preparing for a season whose shape they don't fully know yet.