Toronto Raptors: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

MVP: Kawhi Leonard

Vince Carter. Chris Bosh. Kyle Lowry. DeMar DeRozan.

There have been a plethora of great players in Toronto’s brief NBA history. Arguably none has matched the caliber of the Raptors’ newest star and best chance to end the team’s lifelong MVP drought.

Kawhi Leonard has been a finalist for the MVP award several times in his career, but has yet to capture it. He has around 200 million reasons to attempt to rectify that oversight this season.

Much of the focus will be on Leonard’s integration into the franchise. There weren’t many early indications that he was pleased by the trade from San Antonio. His unhappiness with the Spurs last year clearly affected the team.

He also played in just nine games last season due to an injury the public still knows next to nothing about. Leonard averaged a solid 16.2 points per game, but struggled with other facets, including a paltry average from downtown.

There will be plenty of reservations until he’s seen playing on the court.. Once that happens, he should reinsert himself in the MVP conversation.