Alright, so the flip side of the new intel regarding a plausible Raptors-Kawhi Leonard reunion.
On one end of the spectrum, RJ Barrett stands out as Toronto is reportedly reluctant to move him in a deal with the Clippers, which could be the Raptors' signal that he's viewed as a pillar for the future.
Which brings us to the opposite end of the spectrum, and this latest report can't be seen as good news for Brandon Ingram, who is reportedly Toronto's ideal choice at the forefront of a second Kawhi trade swing.
The exact quote from NBA insider Jake Fischer in an X post from Sunday afternoon reads: "In discussions with the Clippers, sources say Toronto has expressed a preference in dealing Brandon Ingram to Los Angeles, as opposed to RJ Barrett."
Brandon Ingram could be on the move as Raptors explore a Kawhi Leonard reunion
Ingram has certainly been a hot subject in Raptors Nation for a while now, especially in the aftermath of their 2026 playoff run. BI found himself under fire for much of that postseason campaign, as his lackluster efforts to emerge as a key Raptors offensive weapon was on full display, until Toronto got dealt the ultimate bad hand when Ingram suffered an injury in Game 5 and became absent for the rest of the series.
While others like Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter, and RJ Barrett maximized the postseason stage, the Raptors' most significant acquisition in years failed to show up when it mattered most — health concerns or not.
Toronto isn't the most attractive destination for top stars or even fringe stars, so when the Raptors were able to move in and snag a previous All-Star in Brandon Ingram at last year's deadline for a fairly low cost (the resulting extension, maybe not so much), it looked like a lowkey move that could pay dividends for Toronto.
They needed someone to carry the offensive load behind Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram did just that for the Raptors. He had his most active NBA season in years and returned to All-Star form for the first time since his 2020 breakout campaign. However, Toronto might now consider a quick pivot from focusing on Brandon Ingram as a core player to revisiting their 2019 crown jewel, Kawhi Leonard, in the hopes of striking gold once again.
It would be a bold move, no doubt about it. The rumored interest of Leonard in returning to Toronto has even sparked some debate in the Raptors Rapture circle (shoutout to Chris Lambert) about how genuine it really is. Though, the situation has definitely been intensifying and increasingly evolving with new reports pouring in.
We'll just have to wait and see how things develop over the next few days — or even in the coming hours.
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