A blockbuster offseason trade proposal sending Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers back to the Toronto Raptors has emerged.
In a column titled “The Perfect 2026 Offseason Trade for Every NBA Team,” Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report created the following trade proposal between the Raptors and Clippers:
Toronto Raptors Receive: F Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: SF Brandon Ingram, F/C Collin Murray-Boyles, SG Ja’Kobe Walter, 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 17 overall)
Most people in the NBA believe the Clippers should trade Leonard this offseason since they are no longer a championship contender and Leonard has just one year left on his contract. The forward will make $50.3 million next season and then hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027 if an extension isn’t done.
The Raptors acquired Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 when the future Hall of Famer had one year left on his contract. That gamble worked out very well, as Toronto won the 2019 championship against the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Yes, Leonard left the Raptors in the summer of 2019 for the Clippers, but the one-year rental for the 2018-19 season was worth it for Toronto. It would be a surreal storyline to see Leonard back on the Raptors again with one year left on his contract for the second time.
This trade proposal pairs Leonard with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. That’s a strong core, especially in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
It will be fascinating to see where Leonard is playing next season. He will most likely not be on the Clippers since the team is rebuilding after trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.
Leonard is a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was named a top 75 player of all time in 2021. The California native holds career averages of 20.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game with the Spurs, Raptors and Clippers.
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