cbssports
The Toronto Raptors announced on Tuesday that Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined for at least one week because of swelling in his left knee. The team stated that the star forward will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation plan and will be reevaluated in seven days.
An MRI conducted on the knee showed no acute injury, according to the team's release. However, given Leonard's history of knee issues, his absence this early in the season is a concern for a Raptors squad that entered the year with aspirations of competing in a deep Eastern Conference.
Leonard appeared in Toronto's first two victories of the season, against the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, averaging 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per start, though his shooting percentages were uncharacteristically low. He then sat out Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to knee discomfort and will now miss at least the next four games, based on the one-week reevaluation timeline from Tuesday.
Among the games he will miss is Toronto's only trip to Los Angeles this season, which features a back-to-back against the Lakers on Sunday and the Clippers on Monday. As a result, Leonard will not play at the Intuit Dome this year.
Leonard was traded from the Clippers to the Raptors this summer, but the deal was not finalized until the league concluded its investigation into salary cap circumvention involving Leonard and the Clippers. The NBA handed down severe penalties to the Clippers, including the loss of five first-round picks, a $30 million fine, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and other executives. Leonard, meanwhile, was traded and fined $700,000.
His return to the Intuit Dome was expected to be met with significant hostility from Clippers fans given how his tenure with the team ended. Now, that reunion will have to wait.
Key Analysis
Leonard's early-season knee issue underscores the fragility that has defined his career. While the MRI brought relief by showing no acute damage, any setback for the two-time Finals MVP is magnified given his injury history. For Toronto, the timing is particularly tough as the team navigates a challenging Eastern Conference. The missed matchup at the Intuit Dome also delays a highly anticipated return that would have added another layer of drama to an already contentious split between Leonard and the Clippers.
Originally reported by cbssports.