Clippers and Raptors Complete Kawhi Leonard Trade

The LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors completed a delayed trade on September 14, 2026, sending forward Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto after a monthslong hold-up tied to an NBA salary cap investigation. According to ESPN, the teams initially agreed to the transaction on June 30, 2026, but the deal was paused while the league probed allegations that the Clippers violated salary cap rules during Leonard’s free-agent signing.

To facilitate the trade, Leonard waived a $7.45 million trade kicker that would have pushed Toronto past the first apron cap, sources told ESPN. Following the completion of the deal, Bobby Marks reported that the Raptors sit $2.3 million below the first apron with 13 guaranteed contracts on their roster.

Trade Terms and Roster Return for Los Angeles

ESPN noted that the Clippers used a 13-day window to navigate league discipline and internal logistics before calling the trade into the league office. The trade moves the Clippers in a younger direction following six seasons with Leonard in Los Angeles. The franchise has faced heavy discipline from the league office, as the NBA announced a $30 million fine, the revocation of five future first-round draft picks, and a yearlong suspension for owner Steve Ballmer for salary cap circumvention violations. Ballmer stated publicly that he accepts the punishments and holds sincere regrets, according to ESPN.

Leonard’s History in Toronto and Cap Context

The move marks a reunion between Leonard and the franchise he led to an NBA championship in 2019. During that single season in Toronto after a trade from the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard won Finals MVP honors by averaging 28.5 points per game against the Golden State Warriors, per ESPN reporting. He recorded 732 points during the 2019 postseason, trailing only Michael Jordan in 1992 and LeBron James in 2018 for single-postseason scoring totals. The agreement was finalized after the Clippers finished working through the league’s penalties, allowing both front offices to lock in the original June terms.