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Clippers, Raptors Inch Closer to Kawhi Leonard Trade
© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Clippers, Raptors Inch Closer to Kawhi Leonard Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Josh Valdez  |  Last updated Jun 30, 2026 5:00 AM ET
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Los Angeles Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard is coming off one of his best seasons ever, as he averaged a career-high 27.9 points on 50.5% shooting (38.7% 3-point) with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals over 32.1 minutes (65 games). However, the 35-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and the Clippers aren't close to contending after sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline.

Leonard signed with Los Angeles in July 2019 after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder hasn't returned to the conference finals ever since, as he was injured when the Clippers made it that far for the first time in franchise history in 2021.

Now, Leonard could return to Toronto for the twilight of his career, via The Stein Line's Jake Fischer.

"There was obviously no Kawhi Leonard trade on Monday, but sources with knowledge of the talks between Toronto and Los Angeles say there was indeed momentum pushing towards a deal between the Raptors and Clippers," he reported on Tuesday.

Kawhi Leonard Would Sign Extension With Raptors


Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2)© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Leonard only spent one season in Toronto, but it was one of the most important of his career. The California native won his second title and NBA Finals MVP award, becoming the first player to earn the latter honor with a team in each conference. He first did it with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

Since the Clippers have not offered Leonard a contract extension, the Raptors are the only other team he'll sign one with, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

"He has not been given any indication that the Clippers want to give him a contract extension. He has one year and about $50 million left on his contract," he reported. "If the Clippers are not going to give him that contract extension, there are multiple other teams out there in the marketplace that will...He's coming off a second-team All-NBA season."

"But as of right now, sources tell me there's only one place he will commit to long-term. That's the Toronto Raptors, his former team," he continued. "He's familiar there, he won a championship there. A lot of the people he was there with as far as the front office side and the medical staff, they're still there. We know how important familiarity and surroundings are to Kawhi Leonard. That is where he is looking at potentially for his next home."

In order to make the deal work, Toronto could send Los Angeles forward RJ Barrett and center Jakob Poeltl for salary matching as well as draft capital. It has all of its own first-round picks for the next six years, so it could send its 2027, 2029 and 2031 picks. The Stepien Rule forbids teams from trading its first-round picks in consecutive years.

From there, the Raptors could sign and/or trade for a big man to replace Poeltl and assemble a starting five of Immanuel Quickley at point guard, Brandon Ingram at shooting guard, Leonard at small forward, and Scottie Barnes at power forward to go with the new center.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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