Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard to Raptors for Ingram, picks
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- The LA Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN.
- Kawhi Leonard has one year left on his contract at $50.3 million and becomes eligible to sign a two-year, $123.7 million extension in Toronto; sources say his reps told teams he'd only extend with the Raptors and that he envisions ending his career there.
- The trade marks a return to the only franchise Leonard has led to a championship — he won 2019 Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points in the Raptors' title run over Golden State, scoring 732 postseason points (third-most in a single NBA playoffs behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James).
- The Clippers went 42-40 last season and lost in the play-in to the Warriors despite Leonard's career year — 27.9 points and 65 games, seventh in MVP voting, second-team All-NBA — his second 60-game season since his lone Toronto year.
- President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said at his April end-of-season news conference that the Clippers' plan was 'to win with Kawhi,' but the franchise made no long-term commitments this offseason, sources said, prompting Leonard's camp to seek an extension only in Toronto.
- The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through Leonard's $28 million endorsement deal with green banking company Aspiration, in which owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million; Commissioner Adam Silver said on June 3 it was time to 'wrap it up.'
- The deal closes a chapter that began July 6, 2019, when the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and four unprotected first-round picks to Oklahoma City for Paul George to pair with Leonard — a duo that never reached the Conference Finals together while healthy.
Why it matters: The Clippers surrender a two-time Finals MVP at age 35 for a 28-year-old All-Star in Ingram plus three first-round picks, accelerating a youth pivot just six years after mortgaging their future for the Leonard-Paul George duo. The Raptors — who have won one playoff series since 2019-20 — get a star who reportedly wants to finish his career in Toronto and is eligible to extend immediately.
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