Kawhi Leonard is reportedly sticking around in Toronto, with reports out Tuesday that he’s signed a two-year, $115 million extension with the Raptors. This isn’t just a big money deal, though; it’s the culmination of an absolutely wild offseason for the 35-year-old star, one riddled with league investigations and massive penalties.
That Banned Benefits Investigation Was NUTS
You thought the offseason was quiet? Not for Kawhi! Leonard’s return to Toronto wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. The forward was traded back to the Raptors, only for the entire deal to get put on hold. Why? The NBA launched a full-blown investigation into whether Leonard received “impermissible benefits” from the Clippers when he first signed with them back in 2024. Talk about messy! The league came down *hard* on the Clippers, docking them five first-round draft picks and slapping owner Steve Ballmer with a $30 million fine. Leonard himself wasn’t suspended, but he *was* fined $700,000. Once the dust settled on that whole mess, the Raptors decided to pull the trigger on the trade in September, and now they’ve inked him long-term. This isn’t the first time he’s been in Toronto, of course, and last time they couldn’t agree to a long-term commitment. This time? They did it.
All-Star Numbers, First Round Exits: The Clippers Story
Before all this drama, Leonard was with the Clippers, signing a three-year, $149 million extension with them in 2024. He was set to make $50.3 million this season before the trade. His run in LA was a mixed bag, honestly. He turned in All-Star performances and the team made the playoffs multiple times, but that championship ring? It never materialized, even though that was the main goal when they originally signed him ahead of the 2019-20 season with Paul George. They had two deep playoff runs early on, but then Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season with an ACL injury. He came back strong, leading them to the playoffs three more times, but they lost in the first round *each time*. Last year, he even put up a career-high 27.9 points per game and got MVP votes for the first time in four seasons! But still, the Clippers finished 42-40 and got bounced by the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. With his age, the team’s declining performance, and that whole NBA investigation fiasco, the Clippers decided it was time to move on and shipped him out.
The Raptors are clearly betting big on a 35-year-old Leonard, despite his injury history and the recent off-court drama. This extension is a major risk, no doubt, but given his past production and the fact he’s already delivered a championship to Toronto, it’s also a move they clearly believe in. Now it’s up to Leonard to prove that gamble pays off, starting with the 2026-27 NBA season.
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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