The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing a deal to send All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
This isn’t the first shocking trade of the free agency period, with Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball and Julius Randle all being dealt over the last week.
The deal marks a homecoming for Leonard, who led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship in 2019 when they defeated the Golden State Warriors, earning Finals MVP honors in the process. Despite spending just one season in Toronto, Leonard arguably played the best basketball of his career during that playoff run, scoring 732 points in the 2019 postseason, the third-most in a single playoff run in NBA history.
Leonard left Toronto in free agency in 2019 to join the Clippers but now returns at age 35 looking to lead a new Raptors team back to the playoffs.
Leonard still has the 2026-27 season remaining on his contract at $50.3 million, but the trade to Toronto suggests he could sign an extension with the franchise. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Leonard is now eligible to sign up to a two-year, $123.7 million extension with the Raptors.
In 65 games with the Clippers last season, Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, along with 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.
He’ll join a talented Raptors squad featuring young players such as RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes.
The Clippers, on the other hand, lose Leonard but add Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, two talented players they believe can help them remain competitive.
Ingram, a two-time All-Star (2020 and 2026), averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range.
Dick will also get a fresh change of scenery after seeing his minutes cut in half this past season, which led to his scoring average dropping from 14.4 to 6.0 points per game.
Ingram and Dick will join a deep Clippers squad featuring Darius Garland, Brook Lopez, Bennedict Mathurin and the Clippers’ fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Keaton Wagler.
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