[Charania] The LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors are seriously engaged in trade talks for All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, sources told ESPN.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49214664/clippers-raptors-trade-talks-kawhi-leonard
The LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors are seriously engaged in trade talks for All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, sources told ESPN.
LA and Toronto discussed a deal over the last couple of weeks, as Leonard’s reps informed other teams he only wanted to sign an extension with the Raptors if the Clippers were not going to keep him, sources said. He had preferred to stay with the Clippers, but the franchise made no long-term commitments to him this offseason, sources said. Leonard has only the 2026-27 season left on his contract at $50.3 million.
The deal would mark a return to Canada for the star who led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019, winning Finals MVP after he averaged 28.5 points per game in the victory over the Golden State Warriors. Leonard played just one season with the Raptors, as he was traded by the San Antonio Spurs in July 2018, then left Toronto as a free agent after the 2019 season to join the Clippers. The two-time Finals MVP turns 35 on Monday.