Kawhi Leonard is set to return to the Toronto Raptors in a significant trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, marking a notable shift in both franchises’ trajectories. The deal sends Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, one pick swap, and two second-round picks to Los Angeles, as confirmed by reports citing league sources.
Leonard initially rose to prominence with the Raptors, leading the team to its first NBA championship in 2019. During that playoff run, he earned Finals MVP honors by guiding Toronto past the Golden State Warriors in six games, a series marked by injuries to key Warriors players Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. After that title-winning season, Leonard left Toronto in free agency and signed a maximum contract with the Clippers, returning to his Southern California roots. The Clippers had recently acquired Paul George, creating high expectations for a new era of contention in Los Angeles.
However, Leonard’s tenure with the Clippers was marred by injuries to both him and George, which limited the team’s success. While the Clippers came closest to the NBA Finals in 2021, falling to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals, subsequent seasons saw early playoff exits, including three consecutive first-round losses from 2023 to 2025 and a play-in tournament defeat to the Warriors in the most recent campaign.
In the wake of the disappointing results, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank hinted at the importance of Leonard to the organization’s plans following the Warriors' elimination. "Our plan is to win with Kawhi," Frank said. "We obviously showed as an organization that we want to continue and we are driven to win. So at the appropriate time, we’ll sit down with Kawhi, and very similar to 2024, lay out our plan. And if our goals are aligned, then we’d like to win with Kawhi."
Despite injuries limiting his availability at times, Leonard delivered a career-high average of 27.9 points per game last season over 65 appearances, marking one of only two occasions since 2016-17 that he played more than 65 games in a single season.
The trade signals a new chapter for both the Clippers and the Raptors. Toronto regains a proven star with deep ties to the franchise’s only NBA title, while Los Angeles gains promising young talent and valuable draft assets as it looks to retool and overcome recent postseason disappointments. The timing and terms of the trade reflect broader strategic shifts within the NBA’s competitive landscape heading into the 2026-27 season.