QUEBEC CITY — The lasting image from Toronto Raptors training camp at the University of Laval may well be head coach Darko Rajakovic playing a spirited game of one-on-one against Kawhi Leonard at the end of the team’s final practice here.

We’re glad to report there were no injuries, pride included.

“Both of us are still in the process of reconditioning,” joked Rajakovic. “But still, he’s in better condition than me.”

That’s good, because for all concerned, the competition is going to be getting tougher, both in the immediate future and over the course of the next seven months — or nine if the new-look Raptors can find a way to keep playing into June.

The NBA Finals? Really?

It’s a stretch goal to be sure, but one that shouldn’t be completely off the table when so many eggs are put into a basket cradled by Leonard’s massive hands that remain attached to his 35-year-old body. One that remains capable of incredible things on the basketball floor, but has been known to fail him for long stretches over the years.

This is not to say that Saturday night’s exhibition game against the Miami Heat at Centre Videotron carries any specific meaning or intrigue, at least in practical terms.

No matter who the opponent, there might not be an event on an NBA team’s calendar that means less than their first exhibition game. Or their second. And maybe even their third.

Staying healthy is the primary goal of the pre-season, especially for the Raptors, who have so much invested — financially, existentially and competitively — in Leonard, an athlete whose routine excellence through 15 seasons has only ever been interrupted by a fragility that is almost shocking given the overwhelming package of size and strength he takes the floor with, even by NBA standards.

Which is a roundabout way of saying that the chances of Leonard taking the floor in his iconic No. 2 jersey for the Raptors Saturday night lie somewhere between slim and none, with the smart money on the latter.

No cause for concern there, however. Leonard has been an active participant all week in camp, being held out only from the 'live' or 'contact' portion of the workouts as he builds up after being limited to........

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