New Kawhi Leonard Rumors Reveal Trade Kicker Update for Raptors-Clippers Deal, Impact on Salary Cap

Kawhi Leonard is returning to the Toronto Raptors and reportedly did some financial maneuvering to make the trade work.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday the Los Angeles Clippers are sending Leonard to the Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-round picks.

Charania and Bobby Marks also reported that Leonard waived his 15 percent trade kicker that was worth $7.45 million in order to "facilitate the trade" that leaves Toronto "pressed at the first apron."

Notably, Los Angeles agreed to trade Leonard to the Raptors back in June. However, the trade was paused during an ongoing investigation of Leonard and the Clippers.

The NBA announced in September an independent investigation found Los Angeles engaged in "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations" and punished the team and player "for violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement."

The punishments included a $30 million fine for the Clippers, the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks, a one-year suspension for team governor Steve Ballmer and a $700,000 fine for Leonard.

While the Clippers initially said they would challenge the penalties, Ballmer announced Sunday the team decided to comply instead and paid the fine in an effort to move forward.

Completing this trade is a big part of moving forward, and Los Angeles getting significant draft capital back in return for Leonard should help its rebuilding efforts in the future after losing so many picks in the punishments.

As for the Raptors, they are getting a future Hall of Famer and franchise icon back in the deal.

While Leonard was previously with Toronto for just one season, he led the team to the championship as the 2019 NBA Finals MVP. His playoff run included brilliant individual play against the powerhouse Golden State Warriors in those Finals and a buzzer-beater to win Game 7 of a second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He provides far more starpower to a Raptors team that could use some outside of Scottie Barnes.

Toronto took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of last season's playoffs with Barnes and RJ Barrett leading the way. It still has those two, and they should see far more open looks with the defensive attention Leonard draws on a nightly basis.

The Raptors may not be in position to win another title with Leonard, but they will be far more formidable in the Eastern Conference picture.