The long-running Kawhi Leonard saga finally has a finish line, and the ending is a mixed bag for anyone in Boston who had been quietly rooting for the Clippers mess to keep dragging on.
For months, the uncertainty around Leonard and Los Angeles had been one of the NBA’s strangest storylines. Reports piled up about shaky leadership in the Clippers’ front office after the suspensions of Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, and there was even talk that the team was stalling out of spite toward Leonard because of his role in the situation. On Monday, though, the deal with Toronto was completed, and Ballmer said in a statement that he won’t fight the punishment.
That closes the book on a particularly ugly chapter for the Clippers, who can now at least start moving forward with a rebuild. The return is significant: two first-round picks from Toronto, a swap, Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and two second-rounders. That comes after the franchise had been stripped of five firsts, so the haul gives them a real pile of draft assets to work with as they try to regroup around Ingram, Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, and others.
It’s still not a clean situation in Los Angeles. The damage is there, and the road back looks rough. But the waiting game is over, and the Clippers can finally shift from limbo to reconstruction.
Boston’s interest in all of this was never subtle. The Celtics had a 2028 first-round pick swap with the Clippers from the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, so every extra complication in LA had a little extra sweetness for Celtics fans. That fantasy is harder to cling to now.
The other ripple effect is in Toronto, where Leonard’s arrival changes the picture in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors gave up plenty to bring him back, but the roster now includes Leonard alongside Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and others. They may not be the East favorites, but they’re firmly in the mix, and they’ve got the kind of team that can make life miserable for anybody they face.
For Boston, that means one more contender to keep an eye on in the chase for Banner 19. And for the Clippers, it means the waiting is finally over - even if the cleanup is just beginning.
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This offseason pointed toward a push to sharpen that part of the identity, with additions such as Mitchell Robinson and Paul George signaling a desire to create more havoc and turn more possessions into stops. Boston also has several holdover players who could raise their defensive impact this season, and if that happens, the Celtics may end up with something even more dangerous than a solid defense: a well-rounded one with very few obvious soft spots. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Added A New Name To Watch In Camp
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For Boston, the move adds a player who will be fighting for either an NBA roster spot or a two-way opening, which is exactly the kind of low-risk competition teams like to create in September. The Celtics have room to evaluate another backcourt option, and Carter now gets a real chance to make his case when camp opens and the roster battles begin. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Training Camp Suddenly Has One Lineup Battle Fans Will Watch
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Queta isnt trying to force the issue, instead leaving the call to Joe Mazzulla as the staff weighs fit, familiarity and the practical trade-offs that come with each option. Robinsons free throw shooting is part of the discussion, while Quetas existing comfort in the system gives him a different kind of edge, which is why this battle could linger well beyond the first few days of camp. [Read more 🡒]