Joshua Howe

Still waiting for Godot ... | Staff writer for @RaptorsRepublic | Bylines: @Raptors, @Sportsnet, @ClutchPointsAPP | Host of @WritersWritePod

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

“Fred giving a shoutout to Rockford with his busted tooth—I mean, that was half-hockey, half-basketball, all Rockford."

All NBA players have some level of impact. But few have had the effect VanVleet has had on Rockford. My final feature, for @Raptors: https://t.co/2iCDP9NW7w

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Less than two minutes into the game, Kawhi has hit a top-of-the-arc triple and made a steal that led to a Barrett fast-break bucket.

Raps up 7-0. Chicago timeout.

He’s back!

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

It’s almost time to Raptors basketball. Enjoy the ride — here’s to a fun season!

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Less than a quarter in, but Embiid is looking … rough.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Finally. So ready to get back to basketball.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a trade call.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

No severe punishment for Kawhi — no suspension, contract remains intact. If the Raptors were waiting (by all accounts, they were) to finalize the trade, there’s nothing stopping them now.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

LeBron is in his 40s and still able to send Twitter reeling like this. Incredible.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Get one healthy Embiid postseason, Philly …

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Kyle Lowry Over Everything. For a six-foot (at best) guard to play 20 seasons with such a level of physicality … Incredible.

Time to build the statue. Need it to be either him taking a charge, or the face he made when TOR beat MIL to go to The Finals.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

I expect the rebounding to improve, too, if the back issues stay away.

Toronto is going to need a guy who can bang with other bigs throughout the course of the season. Can't have CMB, who's undersized, playing heavy minutes there every single night.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

I think the general discourse around Poeltl has been a bit disingenuous due to a season marred by injury. He's only 30 years old (he'll be 31 in October), and still has significant value in being an efficient, low-usage finisher and quality screener. Just needs to stay healthy.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

I fully expect Kyle’s jersey retirement ceremony to be incredible. The Raptors will surely pull out all the stops.

Over Everything!

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Per the team, Collin Murray-Boyles is changing his jersey number from No. 12 to No. 30. He wore No. 30 at South Carolina.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Only five players in the league last season took at least 10 pull-up jumpers a game and shot an EFG% of 50 or better:

- SGA (56.2%)
- Luka (53.2%)
- Kawhi (52.5%)
- Brunson (50.4%)
- Edwards (50.1%)

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Kawhi in his mid-30s, right there with two guys in their primes. Truly impressive stuff.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

There were only three players in the NBA last season who played at least 60 games and averaged 30+ minutes, a 60+ TS%, a 30+ USG%, and a net rating of 7.0 or better:

- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Donovan Mitchell
- Kawhi Leonard

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

One of my favourite Kawhi moves I’m looking forward to watching again on a nightly basis: The drifting baseline jumper.

Just powers directly towards the baseline, then springs into a jumper, squaring himself with the basket midair while nearly falling out of bounds. Mesh.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Even in his mid-30s, Kawhi is a high-volume, high-efficiency machine. Slotting him into the Ingram spot is going to be awesome.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Ingram had an all-star-level season for the Raptors last year. He posted a 57.3 TS% on 16.7 shots a game and had a 26.9% usage rate.

Kawhi? He had a 62.9 TS% on 19.4 attempts per game and recorded a 33.5% usage rate.

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Starters: Quick-RJ-Scottie-Kawhi-Poeltl

Bench (6-10): Shead, Walter, CMB, Graves, Battle/TJD

That’s something!

[Joshua Howe @Howevolution]

Going to be an interesting season for the young guys. Adding 35-year-old Kawhi is a win-now move, obviously. Last year, the expectations were to make the playoffs. Now? The bar is being raised to a deep playoff run.