Raptors expect Kawhi Leonard trade to happen ‘sooner rather than later’

The Raptors haven’t stopped waiting for Kawhi Leonard. More importantly, they apparently haven’t stopped expecting him.

People familiar with the situation continue to believe Toronto’s agreed-upon trade with the Clippers “will go through sooner rather than later,” Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported.

That is notable because most of the recent reporting has focused on the Clippers, the NBA and what exactly is causing the delay. This is the clearest indication yet from the Toronto side that the Raptors still expect the original deal to be completed.

Toronto agreed in June to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-rounders and a first-round swap to Los Angeles for Leonard.

Then everything around the Clippers blew up. The NBA determined Los Angeles circumvented the salary cap by arranging outside endorsement income for Leonard. The league fined the Clippers $30 million, suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year and forced the organization to forfeit five first-round picks, among other penalties.

Grange wrote that Ballmer is undoubtedly furious, particularly because Leonard escaped with only a $700,000 restitution payment. Nobody should need much imagination to believe that part.

Still, the Clippers now need draft capital more than ever, and the Toronto package provides it. Grange also noted that general manager Trent Redden, expected to oversee basketball operations during Lawrence Frank’s suspension, was the executive who negotiated the trade.

Meanwhile, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that the NBA is ready to process the deal whenever the teams submit it. So the league isn’t stopping it. Toronto still wants it. The Clippers have every basketball reason to complete it.

At some point, somebody in Los Angeles merely has to make the call.