The Toronto Raptors wanted a star, and they got one in Kawhi Leonard. But Sunday’s game against Minnesota offered a reminder that sometimes the most interesting question isn’t whether you landed a big name. It’s whether you landed the right player for the team you’re building.

Leonard was a major part of Toronto’s championship run, so there’s an understandable attraction to bringing him back. He offers elite scoring, strong defence and the experience of having been there when the stakes were highest. When he’s available, he can change a game.

The difficulty is that availability is part of a player’s value, too. Leonard has a lengthy injury history, and his late scratch against Minnesota, after going through warmups, was an early reminder of the uncertainty that comes with him.

Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball was showing Minnesota what a different kind of star can offer.

Two Stars, Two Different Timelines

Ball is younger, creative with the ball and capable of making teammates better with his passing. His shot selection can be frustrating, but Toronto could have paired his offensive imagination with a roster that has some promising defensive pieces.

That doesn’t mean Ball would automatically have been the better acquisition. Minnesota paid a substantial price, including Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick, pick swaps and second-round selections. Toronto apparently couldn’t put together an offer that Charlotte preferred.

Still, the comparison raises an interesting question about the Raptors’ priorities. Leonard offers the possibility of an immediate payoff. Ball could have offered something different: a star who might grow alongside Toronto’s younger players and help shape the team’s next competitive window.

Neither route guarantees success. A younger player can disappoint, and a veteran can deliver far more than expected. But the risks aren’t identical, and neither are the timelines.

What Should Toronto Measure?

It would be unfair to call the Leonard move a mistake because he missed one game. He has already shown Toronto what he can do at his best, and the Raptors knew the health concerns when they pursued him.

But the front office should be judged on more than the name it brings through the door. It also has to consider how often that player can contribute, what the team gives up to acquire him and whether the move makes sense two or three seasons down the road.

Raptors fans have every reason to appreciate what Leonard accomplished in Toronto. They also have reason to wonder whether the next successful Raptors team will be built around another short-term championship bet or a star who grows with the group.

Sunday didn’t answer that question. It did, however, make it worth asking.

Related: The Raptors Are 2–0. But the Big Story Is Who’s Stepping Up