The Toronto Raptors appear to be nearing the finish line on a deal that would bring Kawhi Leonard back to Canada, and the latest timeline update points to resolution before training camps open in two weeks.
That matters because this trade has been sitting in limbo after the Los Angeles Clippers were hit with punishment from the NBA. Even so, the people involved have reportedly stayed confident the move will eventually clear.
“Per league sources, the Raptors, Leonard's camp and the camps of other prominent players in the trade remain very confident it will go through soon. Leonard, it should be noted, is known to be with his Raptors teammates (in an unofficial capacity) on a retreat of sorts in Miami this week," The Athletic's Sam Amick wrote.
The expectation now is that the transaction will be officially wrapped up before camp begins.
“The Kawhi Leonard trade is expected to be officially finalized before training camps begin in two weeks,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
The deal itself would send All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“The LA Clippers have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal marks a return to Canada for the star who led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious. Leonard would be back in the uniform of the team he helped carry to an NBA title in 2019, and the Raptors are trying to keep pace in what’s shaping up to be a loaded Eastern Conference. Miami and Philadelphia have already made major additions, and Toronto is looking to stay in the mix.
If the trade gets over the line as expected, it would give the Raptors a major headline and a familiar face with a championship résumé. That’s the kind of move that can shift the tone around a team fast.
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Raptors Face A Jakob Poeltl Decision That Could Shape Their Next Move
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One idea floating around has the Clippers looking at Torontos frontcourt for help on the long-term side of the ledger. The logic is pretty straightforward: take on a big contract, give the Raptors some roster flexibility, and potentially come away with future value in the form of draft compensation. It is still very much a speculative path, but for a Clippers team trying to recover from a brutal asset hit, those kinds of discussions are likely to keep coming. [Read more 🡒]