Kawhi Leonard is staying in Toronto, and the Raptors made sure of it with a deal that keeps one of the league’s biggest names in place for the next two seasons.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Leonard has agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season. Charania also reported that the 35-year-old accepted $11 million less than his maximum extension number to help the Raptors, and he waived a $7.45 million kicker after the trade from Los Angeles.
The new contract gives Toronto control of the seven-time All-Star through the next two NBA seasons, while preserving that player option in 2028-29. Leonard’s cap hit for the 2026-27 season will be $50.3 million.
Toronto’s front office had reportedly been mapping out Leonard’s future with the team since the June 30 trade that brought him over from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and several draft picks. Now the plan is clear: Leonard is in the fold, and the Raptors have locked in their star.
There was no shortage of interest along the way. The Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat were all reportedly in the mix to land the former two-time Defensive Player of the Year, but Leonard made it clear Toronto was where he wanted to be.
On a recent episode of the Raptors’ YouTube series Open Gym, Leonard said he didn’t want to "put on a thousand jerseys" or try to chase a championship.
That fits with what has been reported about his mindset: Leonard and his family reportedly loved his 2019 championship run in Toronto and wanted to return.
With less than a month to go before the 2026-27 season begins, the Raptors are sitting with the sixth-best title odds in the league at 22/1.
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Kawhis Return Brings Back The Raptors Biggest Playoff Fear
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The concern, as always, is whether the good feelings can last long enough to matter in the spring. Around the league, some analysts are already questioning Leonards postseason durability, which is exactly the kind of conversation Raptors fans have heard before. Toronto is chasing a real shot at becoming a championship contender again, and Leonards presence makes that dream look less far-fetched. The problem is that the same question shadowing this reunion has yet to go away. [Read more 🡒]