Raptors, Kawhi Leonard reportedly in advanced extension talks

Kawhi Leonard apparently did not return to Toronto for another one-season stay.

Leonard and the Raptors are engaged in “advanced” contract extension talks, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported.

The discussions were expected once Leonard officially returned to Toronto on Monday. The Raptors sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round swap and two second-rounders to the Clippers.

That is not a rental price. Leonard, 35, is entering the final season of his contract and will earn $50.3 million. Extend-and-trade restrictions and the NBA’s Over-38 rule limit what Toronto can offer immediately, but he remains eligible for a two-year extension worth roughly $124 million.

Whether the Raptors intend to go that high is unclear. What seems considerably clearer is that Leonard wanted this reunion to extend beyond basketball convenience.

“I’m not really championship chasing,” Leonard said during the Raptors’ latest Open Gym episode. “I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys.”

Leonard said Toronto’s connection with his family helped bring him back. His son was born in the city during Leonard’s first Raptors stint and had repeatedly asked when they would return.

“This city always gave me love and showed support from everybody,” Leonard said. “I’m happy that they love what I did here. I gave this city everything.”

Leonard gave Toronto its first NBA championship in 2019, then left for Los Angeles that summer. Seven years later, the circumstances are different, but the relationship evidently survived.

“Hopefully they embrace me back and I give them all again,” Leonard said, “and we can make something special happen once again.”