Raptors Interested In Reunion With Kawhi Leonard?

The Clippers’ preference this offseason is to hang onto Leonard, Fischer acknowledges, with team owner Steve Ballmer having reportedly opposed the idea of trading him at the in-season deadline when the Warriors and other clubs expressed interest. And Leonard, who left Toronto for his hometown of Los Angeles after winning a title with the Raptors in 2019, is believed to prefer to remain in Southern California too.

However, with the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers’ and Leonard’s dealings with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration still up in the air and Kawhi entering the final year of his current contract with the team, it’s not a certainty that he’ll stay in L.A. long-term. The two sides will have to work out a contract extension to keep the star forward off the 2027 free agent market, and it remains to be seen whether the Clippers are willing to keep paying $50MM+ annually for a player who will turn 35 next Monday.

If the Clippers do explore trade scenarios involving Leonard, he could exert some leverage in the process based on which teams he’s willing to sign extensions with. Sources tell Fischer that Leonard wouldn’t be interested in signing long-term with teams like the Pistons and Heat. In fact, Fischer hears that the only two clubs the two-time Finals MVP would be open to extending with are the Raptors and Spurs.

Fischer’s reporting aligns with comments made by ESPN’s Bobby Marks during Wednesday’s draft broadcast. Asked about possible trade suitors for Leonard, Marks referenced Kawhi’s “former teams.”

It’s unclear if the Spurs, who are coming off an NBA Finals appearance and are building around their young core, would be open to reuniting with Leonard, but the Raptors have “genuine interest” in the possibility, Fischer insists.

Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link) is more skeptical, noting that the Raptors felt during Leonard’s 2019 free agency like they were being used for leverage when he wanted Los Angeles all along.

The Clippers also believe they still have various paths to improve their roster around Leonard, according to Fischer, who says the team has mulled the possibility of renouncing free agents Bennedict Mathurin and John Collins to open up cap room, though it’s too early to say whether L.A. will go that route.

If the Raptors make a play for Leonard or another highly paid player, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett are among the players believed to be available, per Fischer. Quickley and Poeltl would likely be viewed as negative trade assets due to their sizable long-term contracts, but Barrett is on a fair expiring deal ($29.6MM) and Brandon Ingram (two years, $81.9MM) may also hold appeal to potential trade partners.

According to Fischer, Toronto has also been trying to find a new home for former lottery pick Gradey Dick, who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract and will earn $7.1MM in 2026/27.