Kawhi Leonard Traded to Raptors After Clippers Investigation, New NBA Rumors Reveal Full Details

The trade sending star forward Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors reportedly has officially been processed on Monday.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Clippers signed off on the trade after spending the last two weeks working through the logistics of their punishment following an NBA investigation:

Toronto obtained Leonard in a trade with Los Angeles while sending out Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round selections and a pick swap on June 30.

However, the trade was put on hold while the NBA investigated Leonard and the Clippers for circumventing salary cap rules. The league eventually announced penalties for Leonard and the Clippers on Sept. 2.

Ballmer announced on Sunday night that he was accepting the league's punishment:

On June 30, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Leonard's representatives informed interested teams on the trade market that he would only be willing to sign an extension with the Raptors and envisioned ending his career in Toronto.

The new contract doesn't come as a shock, as Charania also reported July 6 that Leonard and the Raptors were "expected to start" discussions on an extension following the trade.

The seven-time All-Star is beginning his second stint as a member of the Raptors organization, previously suiting up for them during the 2018-19 season.

Leonard exceeded expectations in his initial year on the Raptors, helping them finish with a 58-24 record before capturing their first championship in franchise history.

He averaged 30.5 points per game while connecting on 49.0 percent of his shot attempts in the playoffs with Toronto, earning Finals MVP honors after taking down the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Leonard eventually signed with the Clippers during the ensuing offseason.

The 35-year-old is coming off a dominant 2025-26 campaign in Los Angeles, averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game. He also recorded 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on a nightly basis while finishing the year with 50.5/38.7/89.2 shooting splits.

Toronto compiled a 46-36 record and earned a playoff berth last season led by Scottie Barnes, who earned his second career All-Star nod and finished No. 5 in Defensive Player of the Year voting .

With Barnes and Leonard leading the way, the Raptors are expecting to contend for a championship in 2027.