The argument could be made that the Toronto Maple Leafs never fell from being the most popular franchise in the city of Toronto, but a significant number of observers proclaimed after the Leafs last place finish in 2016 that they had been matched or superseded by the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors for popularity.
Just two years later, the Leafs resurgence under Brendan Shanahan, Mike Babcock, former GM Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas and young stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have brought the franchise back to respectability.
The signing of John Tavares earlier this month and the current state of the two other franchises have eliminated any doubt that the Leafs will remain at the top of the heap.
The Blue Jays enjoyed a successful two-year run and consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series, but the exit via free agency of Edwin Encarnacion, the decline and departure of Jose Bautista and the fragility of Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki has the organization eyeing a full rebuild, trading off pieces like JA Happ and tracking future building blocks Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.
The Raptors have been the definition of the good team that could not get over the hump, finishing first in the Atlantic four of the last five seasons, but being unable to get past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals.
Even with Lebron’s departure to Los Angeles, there was clearly a determination by Masai Ujiri that the Raptors core group of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry was not good enough to get past the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, and that is likely what made Wednesday’s deal with San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard a risky but necessary roll of the dice.
Leonard is an upgrade and a legitimate top-five NBA talent who will help the Raptors in their battle with the Celtics and Sixers, and it is not without risks, since he refused to play most of last season with the Spurs and reportedly wants to play in Los Angeles alongside LeBron in 2019, but there is no evidence that the end result for the Raptors next season would've been any different if they brought back the same group.
It is also is a move that will steal some attention back from the Leafs and keep the Raptors relevant in the minds of Toronto sports fans.
If they are not able to sway Leonard to re-sign, the Raptors may be headed in the same rebuild direction as the Jays, while the Leafs with the core of Matthews, Marner and the addition of Tavares could be the toast of the town for the next decade.
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