A beloved champion is reportedly close to returning to Toronto
The Los Angeles Clippers are close to trading seven-time all-star Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-rounders, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
“Kawhi views this as an opportunity to retire in Toronto,” Charania said on ESPN shortly after breaking the news.
Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported that the final hurdle to get the deal done is each team signing off on the medicals for the incoming players.
Leonard, 35, entered the off-season in the final year of his current contract, which pays him $50.3 million before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer.
He is coming off one of his most productive — and healthiest — campaigns, averaging a career-best 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on 50.5/38.7/89.2 per cent shooting splits in 65 appearances. He finished tied for seventh in MVP voting and earned the seventh all-NBA selection (second-team) of his career.
And now he could be rejoining the team that famously traded for him in 2018, sending franchise staple DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl back to the San Antonio Spurs. A move that sparked the Raptors’ first-ever NBA championship run and saw Leonard take home his second Finals MVP. The two-time defensive player of the year averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 24 playoff games that season.
Despite the win, Leonard then opted to return home and join forces with Paul George on the Clippers instead of running it back with the Raptors.
And despite making six playoff appearances in eight seasons since, the Clippers ended up with just one conference finals run to show for it and appear ready for a new direction after a 42-40 season. Los Angeles traded away veterans James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the February trade deadline, bringing in much younger players in Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, along with the No. 5 pick, which was used on 19-year-old Keaton Wagler.
As for the Raptors, they made a return to competitive relevance last season thanks to a 46-36 record. It was Toronto’s first playoff appearance since 2022, but the team ultimately fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game first-round series.
