Toronto Raptors acquire Kawhi Leonard in trade with Los Angeles Clippers

By Noah Lavoie — 30 June 2026 — 3 min read

The Toronto Raptors have reportedly acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in a significant trade. This move marks a return to Toronto for Leonard, who previously led the franchise to a championship in 2019. The deal, as reported by Shams Charania, involves the Raptors sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one pick swap, and two second-round picks to the Clippers.

This trade mirrors a strategy the Raptors employed eight years ago, when they traded their leading scorer and a recent lottery pick for Leonard. At that time, the Raptors were a strong regular-season team that had struggled to advance deep into the playoffs. The current Raptors team is also seeking to elevate its performance, having recently reached the postseason for the first time in four years.

Leonard’s impact and availability

Despite his age and injury history, Leonard, who is 34 years old, remains a highly effective player when available. Last season, the seven-time All-Star averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game with a career-high usage rate. His offensive skills have remained strong, including making 40.5% of his 3-pointers since returning from an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2021-22 season. This percentage is comparable to Stephen Curry’s performance over the same period.

Leonard is also known for his two-way play, having been named Defensive Player of the Year twice. Last season, he averaged 1.9 steals per game, placing him among the league’s top five in that category. Advanced metrics consistently rank Leonard among the NBA’s elite players, with some even placing him ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, Leonard’s availability has been a concern. Over the past four seasons, he has played 52, 68, 37, and 65 games, participating in 67.7% of the Clippers’ games during that span. His injury concerns have also extended to the postseason, where he played in only four out of a possible 11 games across the 2023 and 2024 playoffs.

Raptors’ strategic move

The Raptors’ decision to acquire Leonard is seen as a calculated risk to boost their offensive firepower. Last season, the team’s top four scorers—Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley—all had similar efficiency, with true shooting percentages around the league average of 58.1%. This contributed to Toronto finishing 15th in offensive rating and struggling in the first round of the postseason with a 111.9 offensive rating.

Leonard is expected to provide a significant upgrade as Toronto’s primary scorer and enhance the team’s defensive capabilities. With Leonard, Barnes, and rising sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles, the Raptors could form a formidable defensive trio. The 2025-26 Raptors finished fifth in defensive rating, demonstrating their existing defensive strength.

The cost of acquiring Leonard in this trade is notably higher in terms of draft capital compared to the 2018 deal. The previous trade for Leonard and Danny Green involved only one first-round pick. However, the market for superstar trades has evolved, with subsequent deals for players like Anthony Davis and Paul George setting a new standard for the number of draft picks involved. Despite this, the Raptors’ acquisition of Leonard is considered a relative bargain compared to other recent superstar trades.

Leonard’s reported desire to sign an extension with Toronto, but not with other teams outside of Los Angeles, is believed to have influenced the trade. The Raptors still retain flexibility for future additions, as they held all seven of their future first-round picks before this deal and are only trading control of three of them. This strategic move aims to transform the Raptors into a bona fide contender once again, breaking away from their previous middle-tier status.

The trade discussions between the Clippers and Raptors regarding Leonard became public knowledge on Thursday.

Source: tsn.ca