The Kawhi Leonard trade is officially a done deal, even after the NBA absolutely hammered the Los Angeles Clippers with a monster penalty for bending salary cap rules. Leonard is heading back to Toronto, the city where he won a championship in 2019, in a move that’s been brewing for a minute.
The Punishment That Shook the League
The NBA came down hard on the Clippers, stripping them of a staggering five first-round selections. We’re talking their own picks in 2031 and 2033, plus 2029, 2030, and 2032 picks. On top of that, team owner Steve Ballmer got slapped with a $30 million fine. This wasn’t some minor infraction. The league investigated allegations that Leonard received “impermissible benefits,” including a $28 million payment for a “no-show job,” all to get around the NBA salary cap. It’s a wild story, originally delaying this whole trade mess back in June. Commissioner Adam Silver himself said the hold-up wasn’t the league’s doing, but the Clippers and Raptors agreeing to wait for the probe to finish. You gotta wonder how teams navigate deals when there’s that much heat from the league.
Leonard Returns, The Pieces Move
So, what did this crazy deal actually look like? The Raptors are getting Kawhi Leonard, a seven-time All-Star who averaged a career-high 27.9 points last season in 65 games, plus 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals. He shot nearly 39 percent on 445 three-point attempts! Leonard is in the final year of a $50 million contract and is expected to sign an extension with Toronto, something the Clippers apparently weren’t interested in. He even put out a statement: “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.” Talk about playing it cool.
For the Clippers’ troubles, they’re getting quite a haul back from the Raptors: unprotected first-round selections in 2031 and 2033, a first-round swap in 2027, and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033. They also snagged forward Brandon Ingram and guard Gradey Dick. Ingram, 29, averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while hitting 38 percent from three-point range after coming from the Pelicans. He signed a three-year, $120 million extension with Toronto shortly after joining them, too. Dick, who turns 23 in November and was the Raptors’ 2023 first-round pick, saw his scoring drop last season to 6.0 points per game and 30 percent from long range, after putting up 14.4 points and 35 percent from three in his second season.
The Clippers are paying a massive price for past alleged misdeeds with their future draft capital. But they still managed to land some talent and picks in this trade. It’s a wild ride and definitely one to watch as the season unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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