After a year-long investigation, the NBA concluded there was sufficient evidence to punish the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for circumventing the salary cap. Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank have all been suspended. The former was also fined $30 million, and the Clippers were stripped of five future first-round picks. Leonard, meanwhile, was fined $700,000.
Clippers fans should be furious. The organization jeopardized the team’s future for a few mediocre years with Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers only went on one deep playoff run with Leonard before three consecutive first-round exits and lastly this year’s play-in tournament loss. So, once the Clippers officially send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, he shouldn’t expect a warm welcome from fans when he returns to Inuit Dome for the first time.
On top of that, it seems that Leonard will also part ways with the organization on unfriendly terms, judging by recent reporting from NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“There is some element that Los Angeles is frustrated and disappointed that Kawhi Leonard essentially got off scot-free here,” Fischer said on a Bleacher Report livestream on September 8.
Everyone involved on an organizational basis can be expected to act like professionals, but there could still be an awkward air in the building, while fans will undoubtedly let Leonard know how they feel about the whole situation.
Fischer also reported that the trade is still expected to go through as planned and that the holdup is mainly that the Clippers are still figuring out their front office in the wake of GM Lawrence Frank’s suspension. The Clippers may be frustrated, but it actually works in their best interest that Leonard wasn’t punished more. This way, the Raptors will be willing to complete the trade, and the Clippers get two first-round picks to replace the ones they lost.
The Raptors are scheduled to face the Clippers early in the 2026-27 season
The Raptors are scheduled to play the Clippers in the preseason, but that game will take place in Vancouver. Leonard’s return to LA will have to wait until the regular season.
The Raptors open their 2026-27 regular season with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Then, they will face the Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic before traveling to LA for a back-to-back against the Lakers and Clippers on November 1 and 2.
Given his injury history, it’s not sure how the Raptors and Leonard will handle back-to-backs, but there should be a solid chance that he will suit up against his former team. This game will also mark a first reunion between Raptors returners and Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, assuming that both will be on the Clippers’ roster by then.
Jake Fischer also reported on yesterday’s livestream that the Clippers have not indicated that they are looking to reroute Ingram right away. However, if they wanted to make some more trades to recoup the draft picks they lost, Ingram, as a multi-time All-Star, could be a prime trade candidate.
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