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Boston Celtics Op/Ed: Kawhi Leonard the perfect superstar for Boston

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors holds the MVP trophy during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors holds the MVP trophy during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics shied away from trading for Kawhi Leonard last offseason, but the blockbuster trade they didn’t make is the move they should’ve made.

While the Toronto Raptors are celebrating an NBA championship behind the offensive and defensive mastery of one Kawhi Leonard, the Boston Celtics are re-tooling around their young core while dealing with what went wrong with Kyrie Irving.

It’s easy to look back now with the regrets.  Going into the 2018-19 NBA season, the Celtics were the talk of the NBA.  They were the team, behind Irving and a somewhat healthy Gordon Hayward, that were favored to come out of the east and challenge the Golden State Warriors.

With a rising Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier rounding out a team deep in talent, the Celtics had it going on and were primed to be at the top of the league for years to come.  But, as fast as everything went wrong for the Green, the Raptors behind Leonard quickly rose as the favorites.

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Looking back to last offseason, that same gamble that paid off for the Raptors, could’ve and probably should’ve been the same dice rolled by Danny Ainge.  Yes, Leonard opted out and is now a restricted free agent, but he has grown to seriously considering re-signing in Toronto.  Championships and basketball passion have a way of winning a player over.  Even a player with his heart in Los Angeles.

Here is what ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz wrote in a column on Monday:

"“The informed belief that Leonard had every intension of signing in Los Angeles in 2019 was the determining factor for both the [Philadelphia] 76ers and Boston Celtics in not accepting more robust proposals by the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard last summer, according to sources with each team who were close to those negotiations.”"

With what the Toronto Raptors gave up obtaining Kawhi Leonard, the Celtics had more than enough assets to obtain him.  A package centered around Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier would’ve enticed the Spurs.  Certainly, now that we are looking back, a Kyrie Irving for Leonard swap may have the Celtics going into the offseason as defending NBA champions.

The perfect superstar for Boston

If we had a crystal ball during last offseason, that almost blockbuster deal for Kawhi Leonard would’ve been the right move even if he was pre-destined to join one of the Los Angeles teams after a one-year run in Boston.

Heck, Danny Ainge was willing to take that risk with Anthony Davis.  So, taking the kind of chance the Toronto Raptors took with Leonard should’ve been another one of those trades Ainge could add to his resume.

Would Leonard seriously consider re-signing in Boston had that deal happened?

Some would look at the soured relationship between Kyrie Irving and the city of Boston, media and fans and say no.  But, Kawhi Leonard is a quiet superstar, despite how things ended in San Antonio.  When it comes to basketball, he is the ultimate professional who does his talking on the basketball court with his offensive and defensive skills.

Leonard would not have battled the Boston media to the extent Kyrie Irving did and certainly wouldn’t have called out his young teammates. Boston fans would’ve naturally come to love Kawhi Leonard’s game and not simply fell in love with the lust of the dribble like they did with Irving.

It would’ve simply been a different feeling in the Boston area this offseason.  At least the organization and fans would be in the mix of bringing one of the best players in the NBA back versus the seemingly ongoing disgruntled Kyrie Irving reports.

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Perhaps a championship would’ve changed that narrative, but with Leonard in Toronto, the Boston Celtics without the dysfunction would’ve had a hard time getting to the promise land.  What the Raptors proved this season is it just takes one superstar and a good supporting cast to raise a trophy.

Regrets?

Absolutely!  Kawhi Leonard rocking the shamrocks would’ve added to the historical value and championship pedigree of the Boston Celtics.

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