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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Kawhis Raptors Return Creates One Big Question For Darkos Offense
Kawhi Leonards return gives Toronto a very different kind of offensive anchor, and Darko Rajakovic is already sorting through how that changes the Raptors flow. The head coach has pointed to Leonards offensive gravity as the obvious draw, the kind of presence that can bend defenses and open cleaner looks for everyone else, while still allowing the group to keep its pace and transition identity when he is not on the floor.
Rajakovic also made clear this is not an instant plug-and-play situation, even with Leonard back in familiar territory. He is still working his way into the roster and into the environment around him, and the early task for Toronto is figuring out how to blend a superstars shot-making with the rhythm the team has been building, all while keeping enough flexibility in the rotation to let the fit settle in naturally. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Murray-Boyles Could Decide How Far The Raptors Really Go
Collin Murray-Boyles has already given the Raptors a useful glimpse of why they were intrigued by him in the first place. As a rookie, he showed the kind of defensive versatility Toronto has long valued, while also flashing enough offensive promise to suggest there is more to come. The bigger question now is how quickly that two-way profile can grow into something the Raptors can count on when the games start to matter most.
This summer, the early signs around his development have been encouraging, and Darko Rajakovic has pointed to both Murray-Boyles work ethic and the importance of letting his game expand at a measured pace. Toronto does not need him to be finished today, but it does need progress in the right places if he is going to become the sort of contributor who changes the ceiling of the roster. For a team trying to climb in the East, his next step may end up telling the story of how far this group can really go. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Need More Than Leadership From Kyle Anderson
Garrett Temples departure left a familiar void in Toronto, one that was always about more than box scores. Over three seasons, Temple brought the steadying presence the Raptors valued in a veteran, and now the team is leaning on Kyle Anderson to help fill that same space while also contributing on the floor. It is a different kind of ask, but one the Raptors clearly view as necessary as they continue shaping a younger roster.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic has pointed to Anderson as both a veteran and a mentor, which makes the fit intriguing for a team that still needs professionalism to travel through the locker room as much as production does on the court. The question is whether Toronto gets the full package, because this role is not just about experience or calming influence. It is about how much more Anderson can give as his place on the roster takes on added weight. [Read more 🡒]