2019 MVP Kawhi Leonard is being traded back to the Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard is being traded back to the Toronto Raptors from the Los Angeles Clippers after six seasons. He led the Raptors to its first NBA Championship in 2019, during his only season with the Canadian team.

Posted 2 minutes agoEva Zhu

Basketball player in red Los Angeles jersey dribbling during game with crowd in background. — Kawhi Leonard has played with the Los Angeles Clippers since 2019. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

What to know

Kawhi Leonard is in talks to play with the Toronto Raptors again, starting with the 2026 season.
The small forward last played with the Raptors in 2019, leading the team to its first NBA championship.
Leonard’s trade agreement consists of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first round picks, one first-round swap, and two second-round picks.
Leonard is a force to be reckoned with, having earned 2 NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and seven placements on the All-Star team

Kawhi Leonard is coming back to the Toronto Raptors for a second season.

According to sources within the National Basketball Association (NBA), Leonard will be traded to Toronto from the Los Angeles Clippers for a hefty price consisting of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first round picks, one first-round swap, and two second-round picks.

Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a… pic.twitter.com/c0lk5xUGJG
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2026

Although both teams have agreed to the trade, it still must be approved by the NBA through a trade call, which has not been completed yet.

Leonard is considered one of the most impressive two-way (skilled at offense and defense) players in the NBA. He played with the San Antonio Spurs for seven seasons from 2011 to 2018, winning a championship and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2014.

In 2018, the small forward was traded to the Toronto Raptors. He helped lead the Raptors to its only championship win in 2019 and was awarded MVP for the second time. Leonard’s accolades don’t end there. He’s also a seven-time NBA All-Star and a seven-time member of the All-NBA team.

After only one season with the Raptors, he moved to Los Angeles and signed with the Clippers as a free agent.

According to an X post by Law Murray, a reporter for The Athletic, Leonard’s trade conditions will be spread over the next several years. The Clippers won’t be receiving its unprotected first-round picks from the Raptors until 2031 and 2033, and likewise with the second-round picks — in 2030 and 2033.

In case there is confusion

The terms of the trade are unchanged, per source

Clippers will get Ingram/Dick, 2031 and 2033 unprotected 1sts, 2027 1st swap, 2030 and 2033 2nds
— Law Murray 🪛 (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 14, 2026

Leonard was recently embroiled in a salary-cap scandal while playing for the Clippers. A sports podcaster revealed in September 2025 that the team had side-stepped the NBA’s salary cap and paid him over $10 million in off-court income. This move clearly violated the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

While the Clippers took the brunt of the punishment — involving a $30 million fine and losing five first-round draft picks — he still has to pay $700,000.

During the 2026 season, Leonard scored 27.9 points per game, logged 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and scored just over 50 per cent of baskets from the field goal line.