Kawhi Leonard will miss at least one week due to swelling in his left knee, as announced by the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. He will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation plan and will be reevaluated in a week.

The positive aspect of the announcement is that an MRI "revealed no acute injury". However, given Leonard's injury history, his absence this early in the season raises concerns for a Raptors team hoping to contend in a competitive Eastern Conference.

Leonard participated in the first two games of the season, achieving:

• 19.5 points per game
• 7.5 rebounds per game

Despite these contributions, he struggled with shooting. He sat out during a loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday due to knee discomfort and will now miss a minimum of four upcoming games.

This injury means Leonard will be absent for:

• The Raptors' only trip to Los Angeles this season
• Back-to-back games against the Lakers on Sunday and the Clippers on Monday

Leonard's absence from the Intuit Dome is significant, especially since he was traded to the Raptors from the Clippers this summer. The trade was delayed due to an investigation into the Clippers' salary cap practices, resulting in severe penalties for the team.

His anticipated return to the Intuit Dome was expected to draw a hostile reception from Clippers fans, but they will have to wait longer to greet him.