Raptors may have an alternative trade target amid Kawhi Leonard scandal

The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a blockbuster trade to send Kawhi Leonard back to Canada.

The only problem is that Leonard and the Clippers are entangled in an investigation into an alleged salary cap circumvention scheme, and both parties could face steep penalties if found guilty.

The Raptors hit pause on the transaction until they get more clarity on this situation, but it doesn't sound like the league will conclude its investigation any time soon.

Considering that, FanSided's Chris Lambert believes the Raptors might be done waiting. Instead, they could pivot toward Michael Porter Jr. to add more scoring on the wing. 

Raptors could pivot to Michael Porter Jr. if Kawhi Leonard deal falls apart

“The Toronto Raptors are getting closer to the start of training camp, and with how mixed reports are circulating about when Kawhi Leonard is expected to join the team, it may be time to pivot,” Lambert wrote. “I’d assume that if the trade doesn’t go through, Toronto will still explore trading Brandon Ingram to avoid any awkwardness that BI rejoining the team would bring — they should pivot to Michael Porter Jr.”

Of course, Porter Jr. isn't even close to being the elite defender Leonard is, and he's not much of a facilitator, either.

That said, he's a bonafide three-level scorer who can go off for 30+ on any given night, and he's shown that he's more than comfortable being a team's go-to scorer.

Injuries were also a concern for Porter Jr. earlier in his career, but he's been mostly healthy in recent years and is a battle-tested player with extensive playoff experience and an NBA championship.

Leonard would obviously bring a bigger boost, assuming he can stay healthy, which is a big if.