Kawhi Leonard Reportedly 'Nearing' Trade to Raptors, Brandon Ingram Headlines Clippers' Full Return

Kawhi Leonard is likely headed back to Toronto.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers are nearing a deal to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap.

The 2026-27 season is the final year of Leonard's current deal. NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that the Raptors and San Antonio Spurs were the only teams Leonard would consider signing a long-term deal with if he were traded. ESPN's Bobby Marks reported that Leonard is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Raptors for up to two years and $124 million.

Leonard played for Toronto in 2018-19 and led the franchise to its first and only NBA championship.

After this season officially ended with the conclusion of the NBA Finals, Leonard became eligible for a two-year contract extension worth a maximum of $126.1 million. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had made it clear that the team hoped to keep the 35-year-old as the face of the franchise.

"Our plan is to win with Kawhi," Frank said after the Clippers' season ended with a loss to the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. "We obviously showed as an organization that we want to continue and we are driven to win. So, at the appropriate time, we'll sit down with Kawhi, and very similar to 2024, lay out our plan. And if our goals are aligned, then we'd like to win with Kawhi."

However, it now appears that the two signs were not aligned, leading the Clippers to ship away their face of the franchise.

Los Angeles finished the season with a 42-40 record and traded away star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers, leaving Leonard as the focal point of the offense. The seven-time All-Star responded with his best offensive season, averaging a career-high 27.9 points while adding 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals across 65 games.

The Clippers were fortunate to land the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, which they used to select Illinois combo guard Keaton Wagler. They acquired the selection as part of the in-season trade with the Indiana Pacers for veteran center Ivica Zubac, and the pick would've remained with the Pacers had it landed in the top four.

It will now be up to Wagler to lead the Clippers into the future, as Leonard is joining a Raptors squad that went 46-36 last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs. The two-time NBA champion will certainly be motivated to chase a third title with Toronto next season and beyond.