The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Top three things to be excited about for preseason

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates the Jazz win at the end of Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Thunder 96-91 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrates the Jazz win at the end of Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Thunder 96-91 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 20 – An employee at Real Sports Apparel inside Scotiabank Arena hangs up Kawhi Leonard basketball jerseys for sale to the public. Earlier, Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri talked to the media during a press conference about the DeMar DeRozan-Kawhi Leonard trade. July 20, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 20 – An employee at Real Sports Apparel inside Scotiabank Arena hangs up Kawhi Leonard basketball jerseys for sale to the public. Earlier, Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri talked to the media during a press conference about the DeMar DeRozan-Kawhi Leonard trade. July 20, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

First look at Kawhi

One of the most surprising moves of the offseason came when the San Antonio Spurs dealt Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan. When healthy, Kawhi was in the ranks of the NBA’s elite superstars. He’ll have to prove he can bounce back from injury and that he can mesh with his new team, but if he does so, he and the Raptors could be a force in the East.

And while Leonard’s playing time could be spotty during preseason, it’s pretty cool that the Jazz will get to be the first team to host him and his Raptors squad. Toronto gets underway in preseason on September 29th at home against the Portland Trail Blazers before heading out to take on the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Despite their epic collapse in the playoffs, the Raptors were a daunting squad last season, nabbing the top seed in the East. Now that their charge is led by Kawhi Leonard and they still own an impressive bench, they’re going to be tough to stop. Normally, the Jazz only get to see the Raptors at home once during the year, so getting this extra glimpse in preseason will be a true pleasure.

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