The NBA absolutely dropped the hammer on the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard Wednesday, hitting them with penalties that’d make anyone’s jaw hit the floor. But here’s the kicker: despite all that chaos, the Clippers are *still* reportedly planning to trade the seven-time All-Star to the Toronto Raptors. And the Raptors? They’re not just taking him back; they’re already mapping out a contract extension to lock him down for the foreseeable future.
The Hammer Drops, The Trade Still Stands
Can you believe the hit the Clippers just took? The NBA stripped them of five future first-round draft picks: 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033! They also got slapped with a $30 million fine. Clippers governor Steve Ballmer? He’s suspended for a full year from all league and team activities. All this for “a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations” that included “violating the salary cap circumvention rules.” Leonard himself got fined $700,000. It’s an unprecedented mess, and the Clippers are pushing back, saying they rejected the findings and plan to challenge them.
Even with this seismic punishment, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show that both sides, the Clippers and Raptors, are moving forward like the trade is happening. They even spoke Wednesday night with the intention to complete the deal. This is the trade initially sending Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-round picks in 2030 and 2033, and rights to a first-round pick swap in 2027. That deal was paused during the investigation, but now it’s back on. The expectation, Charania added, is that an extension for Leonard will follow. How do you even recover from losing five first-rounders AND your governor for a year, yet still make this deal? Wild.
The Return of the King in the North?
Talk about a full-circle moment! Kawhi, who is 35 years old, made it pretty clear where his head’s at after the punishment, stating, “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.” This guy is returning to the franchise he led to its *only* championship back in 2018-19, a season where he was the NBA Finals MVP from their win over the Golden State Warriors. He bolted for the Clippers after that title, and now he’s back. The Raptors gotta be hyped to get their guy back and extend him, especially since the 2026-27 campaign is set to be the final one on his current deal. For the Clippers, this trade will at least help them get *some* draft capital back after losing so much to the NBA’s ruling.
So, what’s next? The Clippers are reeling, facing down a mountain of lost draft capital and a year without their governor, yet still pushing through this trade. Meanwhile, Toronto is bringing back a champion, a Finals MVP, and looks ready to commit to him for the long haul. This isn’t just a trade; it’s a seismic shift for two franchises, all kicked off by one of the biggest punishments the NBA has handed down in years. Get ready, because the Eastern Conference just got a whole lot more interesting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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