The Toronto Raptors, after much ado, have officially brought back Kawhi Leonard in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), an unprotected pick swap in 2027, and two second-round selections (2030 and 2033). This finally brought an end to a trade saga that faced a long delay amid the NBA's investigation into the Clippers' cap circumvention with Leonard.

Now that the dust has settled, the Raptors can now focus on next season and how Leonard improves the team tenfold. Leonard is a former NBA champion with Toronto, and he is a true game-changer whenever he's out there on the court. Of course, there are always going to be health concerns with Leonard, but he is coming off a season in which he averaged 28/6/4 in 65 games for the Clippers — providing hope that, perhaps, he can sustain a spell of good health moving forward.

It seems as though returning to the Raptors was always meant to be for Leonard. Even Scottie Barnes must have been looking forward to suiting up alongside Leonard for a long time, as he admitted even before he entered the NBA that The Klaw is someone he wants to play with someday. Now, his wish has become a reality.

“I'll say, it'd be Kawhi Leonard because of the defensive presence he can bring. I like to play defense, so it'll just carry over,” Barnes said in an interview the Raptors' official account on X dug up.

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Indeed, Barnes has developed into one of the best and most versatile defenders in the NBA. He can guard primary scoring options ranging from the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a bruising force on the interior, to James Harden, one of the shiftiest playmakers the league has ever seen.

With Leonard now back with the Raptors, it's not too difficult to imagine Barnes reaching a higher level of play on defense, with the two-time Defensive Player of the Year helping him elevate his game. While the DPOY award is Victor Wembanyama's to lose for the foreseeable future, no one should be surprised if Barnes at least makes it a close competition.