Boston Celtics: 5 reasons to go all in on Kawhi Leonard

2. The Eastern Conference is more competitive

Some believe that the Boston Celtics are a shoo-in to face the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals. But the Indiana Pacers gave the Cleveland Cavaliers all they could handle. Those same Pacers have improved with the additions of Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott and Kyle O’Quinn.

That is just one team in a 15-team conference. There are several teams who, as is, could challenge the Celtics in the upcoming season. The Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Pacers are good enough to view a seven-game series with the Celtics as winnable. Other teams will continue to try to join that circle of playoff-bound teams.

There is no sure thing. Celtics fans watched in horror as both Hayward and Irving fell to injury.  With an 82-game regular season, injuries should be expected. It behooves any team to acquire as much talent and depth as humanly possible. Each season places additional burden on older players, while adding experience and skills to younger players.

While the Celtics are not an old team by a long shot, they do have some players at risk of experiencing declines soon in their careers. They’re not as thick in frontcourt depth as you might think either. Al Horford has been exceptional, but if he falls to injury, the team does not have enough depth to compensate. So the team will need to have the best players possible. Leonard is one such difference-maker.