Kawhi Leonard is headed back North as the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have agreed to a three-player, multi-draft pick trade.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. A return to Canada for the Raptors champion and two-time Finals MVP. pic.twitter.com/VovqGw5qS6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
Did the Clippers Fleece the Raptors in the Leonard Trade?
Leonard, coming off his best season since 2019-20, returns to Toronto after spending seven campaigns in LA. Leonard bolted to Southern California the summer after leading the Raptors to their lone NBA championship in 2019. The 35-year-old averaged nearly 28 points on 50.5% shooting and 2.6 threes at a 38.7% clip. Additionally, he grabbed 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals.
While Leonard is once again a Raptor, LA got a pretty good package in Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick along with four draft picks. The draft capital that the Clippers received was a 2027 first-round swap, a 2030 second-round selection, a 2031 first-round pick, and the Raptors’ 2033 first- and second-round picks.
Ingram had a solid season, earning his second-ever All-Star honors, but he struggled in Toronto’s opening-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dick, who had a breakout sophomore campaign, went from starting 56 games in 2024-25 to the backend of Darko Rajakovic’s rotation this past season. He averaged 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds with shooting splits of 41.9/30.1/87.5.
Toronto and LA had been discussing a trade involving Leonard for the past few weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Charania said the Clippers had trade discussions with other teams, the Raptors were the only team he would agree to an extension with. Leonard will make $50.6 million this upcoming season and is eligible for a two-year, $123.7 million extension with the Raptors.
“Three key reasons Leonard was open to this deal to Toronto, according to sources: Familiarity with a Toronto organization that has the majority of its front office structure in place, now led by executive vice president Bobby Webster,” Charania wrote. Leonard also likes the city of Toronto and believes the Raptors can contend in the Eastern Conference.”
The trade will not be official until July 6.
Because of where Toronto is with regard to the first apron, the Kawhi Leonard proposed trade will need to wait until July 6.
Leonard also has a 15% trade bonus of his remaining salary.
The bonus is valued at $7.5M and the Clippers are responsible to pay.
He can amend the bonus…
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 30, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers Trade Grade: A
LA is entering a new era. The Clippers had a lot of success with Leonard, posting the NBA’s fourth-best winning percentage at 58.7% though they were never able to get over the hunp. While the Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals in 2021, it was also the last time they won a playoff series. The Clippers missed the playoffs in two of the past five seasons, including this past season when they finished ninth in the West at 42-40.
With the trade, Los Angeles got younger and saved a little more than $3.7 million in cap space. Since starting last season as the oldest team in the league, the Clippers have traded Leonard and James Harden. They didn’t exercise the team option on Bogdan Bogdanovic and had Bradley Beal become a free agent after declining his option.
Following yesterday’s trade, LA now has 11 players under contract, with a salary cap hit of $158.4 million. This leaves the Clippers with about $6.5 million in cap space. This includes unsigned 2026 No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler and recently re-signed Kobe Sanders. Their average age is slightly under 26.
The Clippers get the two most valuable first-round picks the Raptors could offer and should move up around 10 spots in the 2027 Draft with that swap.
Fantastic return for Kawhi Leonard. https://t.co/Z4AOkvbK4z
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2026
Speaking of Sanders, he signed a four-year, $11.2 million contract after having his player option declined on Monday. Sanders, the No.50 pick in 2025, had a solid rookie campaign with 7.3 points and 2.3 rebounds with shooting splits of 46.6/40.8/82.6. He is expected to earn $2.5 million this upcoming campaign.
How Do Ingram and Dick Fit With the Clippers and What’s Next?
Ingram immediately becomes the Clippers’ offensive engine, alongside Darius Garland and Wagler. Ingram, 28, will make $40 million this year and has a $41.9 million player option for 2026-27.
Ingram is a high-usage shot-maker who excels in the mid-range. Ingram will replace Leonard as the Clippers’ starting small forward. However, his defense is a real question mark.
Dick is known for his shooting gravity, though the 23-year-old struggled mightily from deep after being believed reliable from downtown his first two seasons. The 6-7 wing figures to compete for a rotational spot this year, though it is possible he becomes a major part of the Clippers’ second unit if Bennedict Mathurin returns. He excels off the move and is a connector-type player who likes to get out in transition.
Mathurin is a restricted free agent after receiving his $12.2 million qualifying offer. Mathurin proved to be a valuable scorer off the bench for the Clippers after coming over from Indiana at the trade deadline, but he struggled with efficiency.
Assuming Mathurin returns, whether accepting the qualifying offer or earning amulti-year deal, that would give the Clippers 12 players on the ledger. They will likely re-sign restricted free agent Jordan Miller, and 2026 second-round draft pick Baba Miller will also get a standard deal. However, Cam Christie‘s guarantee date for his $2.2 million contract has been pushed back to July 20. The Clippers’ biggest need going forward is a big, whether a power forward or center.
Toronto Raptors Trade Grade: B
Toronto is coming off its best season since 2021-22, the last time the Raptors made the playoffs before this past year, going 46-36. Toronto, the East’s fifth seed, fell to Cleveland in seven games, with every game won by the home team. The 46 wins were a 16-victory improvement from 2024-25.
Leonard immediately becomes the “guy” once again in Toronto. Even though Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett are solid scorers, they are not the shot-makers or creators that Leonard is. While Leonard is much older than he was the last time he was in Toronto, he is still a perfect fit for the Raptors due to their defensive identity and half-court needs.
The Raptors now have 11 players under contract and are about $4 million below the luxury tax. So, the Raptors are destined to be a tax team with four spots to fill. This figure includes 2026 No. 2o pick Allen Graves‘ $4 million salary.
While LA got a nice return, the Clippers reportedly would have preferred more draft capital and the Raptors’ top young players, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
“The Raptors turned away requests for all-NBA rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and breakout second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter,” Grange said. Even as negotiations picked up on Monday, one league source suggested that the Clippers were trying to extract second-year point guard Jamal Shead. No dice.”
Toronto does need to add a backup center and another point guard or combo guard. The Raptors do have a decision to make today, whether to guarantee Jamison Battle‘s $2.3 million salary.
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
