Toronto Raptors Officially Acquire Kawhi Leonard in Blockbuster Trade With Clippers

The 2019 NBA champion returns to Toronto following a months-long league investigation into the Los Angeles franchise.

Summary

The Toronto Raptors have officially re-acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers following NBA trade approval

Toronto traded Brandon Ingram Gradey Dick three first-round pick assets and two second-round picks to Los Angeles

The deal was finalized after an NBA investigation into salary-cap circumvention resulted in fines and executive suspensions for the Clippers

The Toronto Raptors have officially acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers following trade approval from the NBA on September 14, 2026. The transaction brings the 2019 NBA champion back to Toronto after a months-long league investigation into salary-cap circumvention delayed the deal.

To acquire Leonard, the Raptors sent All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks to Los Angeles. The trade was cleared following the conclusion of an NBA inquiry on September 2, which fined Leonard $700,000 USD while levying a $30 million USD fine, a five-pick draft penalty, and executive suspensions against the Clippers organization.

Leonard returns to Toronto after a 2025-26 campaign with the Clippers where he averaged 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. The seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion joins a Raptors squad that finished fifth in defensive rating last season, bolstering the franchise’s defensive core and championship aspirations.

Kawhi Leonard is expected to speak with reporters on September 28, 2026, during Toronto’s official media day.