Daily Fantasy Heat Check #16: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard finally makes his way back to the Raptors. Will he bring the same impact he did when they won the chip in 2019?
The Heat Check series focuses on players who are “stat monsters,” producers who are cornerstones of all kinds of fantasy league teams and contests.
2025-2026 SEASON STATS
Kawhi Leonard
Regular Season Stats
27.9 points per game (45.6% shooting, 33% from three)
3.6 assists per game
6.3 rebounds per game
65 games played
After a bit of shenanigans surrounding the controversial trade, Kawhi Leonard is finally out of the Clippers. He is now back in the north, and has actually already played his first preseason game with the Toronto Raptors. He scored 21 points, grabbed 5 boards, and had 2 steals in 17 minutes of play. The game was against the New York Knicks, too.
The Toronto Raptors have expressly stated that they will manage his minutes during the season, which is a reasonable strategy, given that Kawhi is on his 16th NBA season already. Besides, the value of Kawhi does not lie in logging a lot of minutes in the regular season–the Raptors got him specifically for clutch playoff situations. The extra boost in offense (and defense) plus the effective shotmaking during clutchtime is a valuable asset not many teams have.
The Raptors have a good baseline, even without Kawhi–Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, who can take the scoring load for much of the season. They are also a good defensive team, and if Kawhi can be available late into the season, the Raptors could be in for a great time.
For Laki Play Players: MID! He will score, but his numbers probably won’t be captain material, especially that a lot of the teams have gotten better statistically this season. Scottie Barnes should be the captain, but Kawhi Leonard could also be a key pick.
Traditional Fantasy Players: HOT! Kawhi is not first pick material, but could be a great 3rd-4th pick. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, Jayson Tatum, and even Kevin Durant are better picks at the forward position. The biggest issue is his availability and his bad history of injuries and load management.
