The Klaw is back in Toronto.
After days of waiting to see the deal be made official, the two sides have reportedly come to terms on a trade agreement sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap, and two second-round picks in exchange for Kawhi Leonard, per ESPN's Shams Charania on X. Note, the exact, 100-percent confirmed package has yet to be finalized, but it should likely center on this framework.
We've known that Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick were largely the Raptors' preferred player assets included in the deal, but we also heard that Los Angeles was fixing to perhaps snag another youngster or additional draft assets to sweeten the offer. The Clippers seemingly get their wish in a sense in the form of returning draft capital, though, they strikeout (and justifiably so) on adding names like Ja'Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, or Jamal Shead in the deal.
Now, in spite of all the glory that Kawhi Leonard has accomplished for himself, some might be looking at that package and think it's a bit of an overpay to cash in for a recently turned 35-year-old with injury troubles.
While I don't exactly share that same sentiment, I do, however, find it a bit crazy (in a good way) that Toronto dealt more this time around for a 35-year-old Kawhi than when they traded for 27-year-old Kawhi in the summer of 2018. The inclusion of more picks, specifically.
Raptors' 2026 iteration of the Kawhi Leonard trade looks a lot different than in 2018
If you need to recall what that package looked like, the Raptors sent long-time franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl (who eventually came back in his own right, but maybe not in Toronto's best interests), and a 2019 first (that eventually became Keldon Johnson) for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
Those circumstances were a lot different though, as Toronto were taking the massive gamble on the Kawhi trade paying off immediately, seeing as it was up in the air if he'd sign an extension the following offseason and questions around his health lingered.
It obviously worked out in the end as Toronto won the chip, but they'd lose Kawhi in a heartbreaker that 2019 offseason. Here we are years later and Toronto makes the same bold splash, at a bit higher of an on-paper cost, but a completely new set of circumstances at play.
Toronto trades their polarizing star experiment in Ingram, a lowly youngster in Dick, and a mix of different draft assets (which shouldn't be too much of a concerning loss) for an all-in Leonard who is likely to sign an extension this time around with reported plans to retire as a Toronto Raptor.
As far as the deal is concerned, I have no real nitpicks to scoff over. Still, you can't help but think about the Kawhi trade back then and the one now, and marvel at how crazy the NBA world can get?
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