Raptors taking their time with Kawhi Leonard’s preseason debut

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic stated the team is taking a cautious approach before allowing newcomer Kawhi Leonard to make his preseason debut. Leonard sat out Saturday's 129-105 exhibition loss to the Miami Heat and is also expected to miss the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Vancouver as he continues to get up to speed.

Rajakovic noted that Leonard has not played live basketball since last season's play-in tournament with the Clippers, as his preparation was delayed by an NBA salary-cap circumvention investigation that briefly held up the trade. The Raptors plan to gradually build up Leonard's conditioning so he is fully prepared for the regular season.