Clippers, Raptors in Serious Kawhi Leonard Trade Talks
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- The Clippers and Raptors have been discussing a Leonard deal over the past two weeks, with Leonard's representatives telling other teams he'd only extend with Toronto if LA declined to keep him, sources said.
- Leonard has one season left at $50.3 million and turns 35 on Monday; he averaged a career-best 27.9 points across 65 games last season and finished seventh in MVP voting while earning All-NBA second-team honors.
- Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, said in April the team's "plan is to win with Kawhi," yet LA went 42-40 and lost in the play-in tournament to the Warriors.
- The Clippers remain under an NBA investigation into whether they funneled money to Leonard through a $28 million Aspiration endorsement deal — a company that also held a $300 million, 23-year team endorsement, with owner Steve Ballmer having invested $60 million in Aspiration.
- Adam Silver said on June 3 the league's inquiry "can't be investigating forever" but must "get it right," with Leonard, his uncle Dennis Robertson, and team officials already interviewed by investigators.
- The Raptors have won just one playoff series since Leonard left (in 2020) and finished 40-36 last season, losing to Cleveland in seven games — a trade would be a direct bid to re-enter the East's top tier.
- Once moved, Leonard becomes immediately eligible to sign a two-year, $123.7 million extension with Toronto, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Why it matters: A trade would mark a reset for the Clippers after a 42-40 exit and an unresolved salary-cap investigation, while giving Toronto a championship-tested star to climb back into East contention before Leonard hits free agency. The $50.3M expiring deal and immediate $123.7M extension eligibility make the financial mechanics as binding as the basketball fit — and Leonard's representation has already narrowed leverage to essentially one destination.
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