The idea of a Kawhi Leonard reunion in Toronto carries a certain nostalgia. For Raptors fans, he will always be the Finals MVP who delivered the franchise its only championship in 2019. But any front office thinking about a second marriage with Leonard must consider a hard line—Collin Murray-Boyles should be untouchable in trade talks. Here is why Toronto shouldn’t even entertain the idea of including their promising young forward in any package.
Why Toronto Wouldn’t Include CMB in a Kawhi Trade
Collin Murray-Boyles’ All-Rookie Second Team Selection Highlights His Impact For The Toronto Raptors
The Raptors invested the ninth overall pick in Murray-Boyles just last year, and he has already proven his value. Murray-Boyles’ All-Rookie Second Team selection is not just a nice accolade; it validates that Toronto identified a difference-maker in the 2025 draft.
His rookie season numbers provide a solid foundation. In 57 regular-season games, the 21-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and nearly a steal and a block per game in just 21.9 minutes. He shot an efficient 57.9% from the field, showcasing his ability to score inside.
What makes his rookie campaign even more impressive is his playoff performance. When the games intensified, Murray-Boyles elevated his production to 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game, shooting 65.6% from the floor. That kind of leap in high-pressure situations is a trait the Raptors cannot afford to trade away.
Beyond the stat sheet, Murray-Boyles brings a physicality and defensive versatility that fits the modern NBA. At 6’7″ and 245 lbs, he can guard multiple positions and has shown a knack for crashing the offensive glass, averaging 3.2 offensive rebounds per 30 minutes. This production comes on a cost-controlled rookie contract, with a cap hit of just $6.65 million for the 2026-27 season.
For a team building a young core, Murray -Boyles’ combination of production, potential, and salary is invaluable. Toronto continued adding players with similar defensive versatility by drafting Allen Graves. Graves and his two-way skill set reinforce the front office’s long-term vision.
What Toronto Paid For Kawhi Seven Years Ago
To understand why this package would be an overpay, one needs only look at the original Kawhi Leonard trade. In 2018, the Raptors sent DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected 2019 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard and Danny Green. A star in DeRozan anchored that package, but the Spurs received neither a blue-chip young prospect nor a treasure trove of draft picks. They got a single first-rounder and a promising but unproven center in Poeltl.
That was the price for a 27-year-old Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP coming off a season where he was a top-three MVP candidate. The current situation is vastly different.
Kawhi Leonard is now 35 years old. While he remains highly productive—making the All-NBA Second Team in 2026—he is also injury-prone and will earn $50.3 million in the final year of his contract. His value, while significant, is not what it once was. The Raptors managed to acquire him without gutting their future in 2018, and they should apply the same logic today, which would mean Murray-Boyles is untouchable.
The Proposed Trade Package and Its Implications
Recent rumors have outlined potential trade packages. One proposed trade would have the Raptors send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, Jonathan Mogbo, and Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Clippers, along with draft picks. This framework is understandable. Ingram is an All-Star-caliber player on an expiring contract, and Dick is a promising young sharpshooter.
However, the moment the Clippers or any negotiating party demands Murray-Boyles, the Raptors should walk away. Murray-Boyles is exactly the type of player a team like the Clippers would want in a rebuild. He is young, cost-controlled, already productive, and has All-Rookie pedigree. Including him alongside Ingram, Dick, and valuable draft picks would be the overpay that sets a franchise back.
If the Clippers are seeking a deal and the Raptors prefer not to include RJ Barrett, as has been suggested, the conversation can center around Ingram, Dick, and picks. For a 35-year-old on an expiring deal, that is already a substantial offer. The Raptors’ front office must remember that they won their first championship by acquiring Leonard without surrendering a prospect of Murray-Boyles’ caliber. Repeating that formula, not abandoning it, is the key to another successful run.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
