Kawhi Leonard trade to Raptors still expected to happen, extension could follow

Apparently, the Kawhi Leonard trade is still on, and his second stay in Toronto may last considerably longer than his first.

The Clippers and Raptors spoke Wednesday night following the NBA’s ruling in the salary-cap circumvention investigation and still intend to complete the Leonard trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show.

“As of right now, both sides, the Clippers and Raptors, are moving forward as if the trade is going to happen,” Charania said. “Both sides have already spoken Wednesday night and have the intention of moving forward here with this trade.”

Charania added that “the expectation is there will be an extension here to come with Kawhi Leonard.”

Leonard is entering the final season of his contract. The proposed trade, agreed to earlier this offseason before being paused during the NBA investigation, would send Leonard back to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-rounders in 2030 and 2033 and a 2027 first-round pick swap.

Leonard, 35, led Toronto to its only NBA championship in 2019 before leaving for Los Angeles that summer.

The NBA fined Leonard $700,000 Wednesday while hammering the Clippers with a $30 million fine, suspensions and the loss of five first-round picks.

None of that, apparently, has changed Toronto’s mind. Leonard even ended his statement Wednesday by looking ahead to his return.

“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” he said.

If Charania is right, that return won’t necessarily be for just one season.