Kawhi Leonard Facing Three to Four Weeks Out as Raptors Manage Knee Swelling

Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is facing around three to four weeks on the sidelines after a fresh update on the knee swelling that has kept him out of action. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on Thursday that sources had confirmed the expected timeline, a little longer than many had hoped after the Raptors initially announced Leonard would miss at least a week. The club has said there is no acute injury in Leonard's left knee, but that he will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program to address the swelling. Leonard returned to Toronto this off-season in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and signed a two-year, 115 million dollar contract extension before the season started, but he has played just two games so far, averaging 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in less than 30 minutes per game. If the month-long layoff is confirmed, it will be a crushing blow for a Raptors side trying to build around its new centrepiece, although the hope inside the club is that the cautious approach will allow Leonard to return at full force rather than risk a longer-term problem.