Keeping Kawhi-et: Leonard moving forward in Raptors return — SkimNews
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- Kawhi Leonard deflected questions about the NBA investigation at Raptors media day, saying he wants to "focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor" and move forward after 70 days unable to meet teammates.
- The NBA found the Clippers engaged in salary cap circumvention by arranging no-work endorsement deals through the team to funnel extra money to Leonard outside his contract.
- Steve Ballmer was suspended by the NBA for one year, two other Clippers executives also received suspensions, and Leonard himself was fined $700,000 but not suspended.
- Toronto sent last season's leading scorer Brandon Ingram, former lottery pick Gradey Dick, and multiple picks to Los Angeles in the league-approved trade for Leonard.
- Leonard signed a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors after the trade was approved.
- In his 2018-19 Toronto stint, he averaged 26.6 points and a career-best 7.3 rebounds, winning Finals MVP and delivering the franchise's only championship.
- Leonard's first return game to the Clippers is scheduled for Nov. 2, the second night of a back-to-back.
Why it matters: Toronto surrendered its leading scorer (Ingram) plus Dick and picks to reunite with a 35-year-old two-time Finals MVP on a $115M deal, while the Clippers lose Ballmer for a year and absorb a cap-circumvention ruling that triggered the whole roster shake-up.
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