Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, and the early read is simple: he’s settling in, taking it step by step, and enjoying the return.
The Raptors made Leonard a major target once they believed he could be available from the Los Angeles Clippers, and the trade eventually became official after a long delay tied to an NBA investigation. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, “The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers to Toronto has been made official after a monthslong delay due to the NBA's investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention. The teams initially agreed to the deal on June 30, but it was paused while the league investigated allegations the Clippers violated salary cap rules in signing Leonard as a free agent," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
Once the move was finalized, the relationship moved quickly toward something longer term. Leonard later signed a contract extension with Toronto, and Charania reported, “Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN," Charania posted.
For Leonard, this second run with the Raptors comes with a different feel. He’s no longer the new face arriving with star power alone - now he’s the veteran in the room, the one younger players are watching closely. And by his own account, he’s easing into it.
“I feel good. Being smart, taking it slow.
Just getting familiar with everybody. Getting the names right with each coach, learning the plays.
Learning everything (Darko's) been doing. But it's been fun...
It's been a great transition,” Leonard said.
Toronto’s energy around the reunion appears strong, and Leonard seems intent on making the adjustment as smooth as possible. The fit is different from his first stint, but the goal remains the same: make this version of the Raptors work, and make it work well.
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Gradey Dick Faces A Huge Clippers Opportunity He Can't Waste
Gradey Dick arrives in Los Angeles with something he did not have much of in Toronto: a clean slate and a real opening to play. The Clippers brought him in as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade, and with injuries thinning the early-season rotation, he should get the kind of minutes that can quickly change how the organization views him. After a modest run with the Raptors, this is the sort of chance young players talk about when they say they just need an opportunity.
For the Clippers, the evaluation is simple and the timeline is not. Dicks early work in this new environment could shape whether he sticks as part of their long-term plans or becomes a name they shop before the deadline. There is room for him right now, and there is pressure attached to it, because teams rarely wait long when a player is trying to prove himself on a short-term deal. [Read more 🡒]