The Toronto Raptors have pulled off a reunion many said was impossible. Seven years after he left them at the altar following their first NBA championship, Kawhi Leonard is coming back to Canada. The Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a trade that sends Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, the right to swap firsts in an additional year, and two second-round picks to LA.
The Raptors are opening a half-decade window in which they will push for a championship, as they believe a core base around Leonard and Scottie Barnes will be enough to compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Leonard reportedly wants to stay with Toronto for as long as possible.
According to Shams Charania, Leonard views his second stint in Toronto as an opportunity to retire with the Raptors while chasing what would be his third championship. Toronto is reportedly trying to sign Leonard to a two-year contract extension, which would give them three more seasons of the future Hall of Famer's efforts.
Kawhi Leonard plans to retire with the Toronto Raptors
Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game to along with 1.9 steals per contest. His scoring, assist, and steals per game numbers all exceed what he put together in his lone season with Toronto. Even in his age-34 season, Leonard finished seventh in MVP voting.
Leonard will join a team that already has Barnes in the starting lineup, and pairing him with 2025 No. 9 pick Collin Murray-Boyles could make for a dominant defensive team. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will round out the starting lineup, while Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and rookie Allen Graves will take up the bulk of the bench minutes.
As good as Leonard was for the Clippers, Raptors fans and NBA observers as a whole have to wonder what would have happened if he chose to spend his prime years in Toronto. Keeping Leonard on a team with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and a collection of elite role players in a weak East could have pushed them over the top.
After his California homecoming, Leonard's identification of Toronto as a roster, coaching staff, and culture that he wanted to return to is a massive victory for the Raptors' organization. With a few more strong seasons, Leonard's legacy may be primarily based around his Toronto exploits instead of what he did in Los Angeles and San Antonio.
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