Toronto goes all-in for Kawhi Leonard: Grading the...
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- Toronto Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), one pick swap (2027), and two second-round picks (2030, 2033), per ESPN's Shams Charania.
- Leonard, 34, averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game on a career-high usage rate last season; only LeBron James has posted a better box plus/minus at age 34 or older.
- Leonard's availability is the major risk: he played just 67.7% of Clippers games over the past four seasons (52, 68, 37, 65) and appeared in only 4 of 11 possible playoff games across the 2023 and 2024 postseasons.
- Toronto's 2018 trade for Leonard cost DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and only one first-round pick — the "last major superstar trade" before the Anthony Davis and Paul George deals reset the market.
- The Clippers haven't won a playoff series since 2021; all 16 top scorers from their 2022-23 squad have cycled off the roster, and they now rebuild around Darius Garland and No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler.
- The Clippers lack a 2028 first-round pick, owe swaps to the Thunder (2027) and 76ers (2029), and could face additional penalties once the NBA completes its Aspiration investigation.
Why it matters: For Toronto, the upside is a bona fide contender; the downside is Leonard's injury history limiting him to 67.7% of games over four seasons. The Clippers rebuild around Garland and rookie Wagler but surrender their 2028 first-rounder plus swaps to OKC and Philly.
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