The Kawhi Leonard era is underway in Toronto, and its opening (and perhaps only) season represents a significant fork-in-the-road for the franchise. The window for contention, pegged at three years before last season began, has possibly been reduced by one — that is to say, it’s this year or bust.
If Leonard is healthy and engaged, however, that one year of opportunity has a far greater chance of success than any iteration of the Raptors to date, We the North era or otherwise.
If this year fails (or even if it doesn’t, potentially), an eventual rebuild leers like a catcalling drunk, turned out of the bar before midnight — they have no place to be, but also no place to go, so you’ll just try to live your life without acknowledging their presence any more than is strictly necessary, until they push the envelope or disappear into the night.