Kawhi Leonard's future with Raptors gets $126 million update

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kawhi Leonard's future with Raptors gets $126 million update

By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Sep 17, 2026 10:30 AM ET

At long last, the blockbuster trade involving Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors has been finalized.

After the conclusion of the NBA's investigation into the Clippers franchise for the salary-cap circumvention situation, Leonard is officially a member of the Raptors once again.

On Thursday morning, a notable update surfaced regarding Leonard's future with the team.

How long could Kawhi Leonard stick around with the Raptors this time?

According to a report from NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Raptors and Leonard have held contract discussions, and the two-time NBA Finals MVP is eligible for a massive two-year extension worth $126 million.

The Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard have held advanced discussions and are nearing an agreement on a contract extension, according to league sources. Leonard is eligible to sign for upwards of two years, $126 million.

More NBA from @TheSteinLine: https://t.co/DA9iabgPaL
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 17, 2026

The Raptors paid a heavy price, sending all of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-rounders, one swap and two second-rounders to the Clippers to bring Leonard back to Toronto.

Leonard was instrumental in leading the Raptors to their first NBA title in 2019, and he now comes back with a lot of expectations buzzing in Toronto.

Leonard is coming off a strong season, one in which he averaged 27.9 points per game with 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while appearing in 65 contests for L.A.

The Raptors' starting five will likely be Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl alongside Leonard, and they are doing what they can to keep Leonard around as long as possible.

Matt Wadleigh

Matt Wadleigh is based in California and born and raised in the San Diego area. He studied print journalism at Fresno State for college and got to watch Paul George, Derek Carr and Davante Adams play in a Bulldogs uniform. His work has been featured at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Sporting News, and various USA Today sites, including UCLA Wire, where he was the first managing editor

More must-reads: