Kawhi Leonard is going back to Toronto. The 2019 NBA champion has been traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Raptors in a stunning move that reunites Kawhi with the franchise he won a title with. The full trade details are still being finalized, but the deal is done.
Kawhi is 34 years old. He has battled injuries for years. He is not the same dominant two-way superstar he was in 2019. But he can still be one of the best players in the league when healthy. The Raptors are betting on that.
The trade happened because the Clippers were done. Los Angeles never got past the second round with Kawhi and Paul George. Now George is in Boston, Kawhi is in Toronto, and the Clippers are officially in reset mode. That is a sad ending to what was supposed to be a title chase.
Toronto’s front office has been searching for a star since Pascal Siakam was traded to the Pacers. They have a good young roster with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. Adding Kawhi gives them a legitimate go-to scorer and a veteran presence in the playoffs.
The fit works. Barnes is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions. Kawhi lines up as the wing. Quickley runs the point. Barrett provides scoring off the bench. That is a real starting five with playoff talent.
The health question is unavoidable. Kawhi has missed significant time in each of the last four seasons. He tore his ACL in 2021. He has had knee issues since. Toronto has to load-manage him carefully to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
The Raptors know how to manage superstar workloads. They did it with DeMar DeRozan for years. They did it with Kyle Lowry. They did it with Kawhi himself during his one year in Toronto. The organization is prepared for the reality of an aging superstar.
The city of Toronto is going to lose its mind. Kawhi is beloved in Canada. His 2019 title run is one of the great sports moments in Canadian history. His return, even at age 34, is going to sell out the arena and get people excited about basketball again.
The Eastern Conference just got a lot more crowded. The Raptors are now a legitimate playoff team. Add Toronto to the pile with Philadelphia, Miami, Cleveland, and possibly the Wizards. The East is deeper than it has been in years.
What did Toronto give up? Sources say the deal involved a package of young players and future picks. The Clippers wanted assets to rebuild around. Toronto had the pieces. Both sides got what they needed.
The Clippers now have to figure out their next move. Kawhi and George were their two stars. Both are gone. Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell are still on the roster, but this is a team that needs to tank or make aggressive moves to reload.
Steve Ballmer is not a patient owner. The Clippers just built a new arena. He wants to win now. But the roster is not equipped to win now without Kawhi and George. Expect the Clippers to be very active on the trade market to bring in another star.
Kawhi’s contract situation is a factor. He has two years left on his current deal, with a player option in the second year. Toronto could have him for two seasons or one, depending on how he plays and whether he wants to sign an extension. The financial risk is manageable.
The Raptors have been rebuilding for a couple of years now. Adding Kawhi shifts them into win-now mode. That means fewer young players getting big minutes. It means veteran signings and playoff-focused decisions. The rebuild is essentially over.
Scottie Barnes is the guy who benefits most from this. He now has a real superstar next to him. He does not have to be the primary option every night. He can grow into that role over time while Kawhi carries the offense in big moments.
Masai Ujiri, who made the original Kawhi trade in 2018, is now the guy who brings him back. That is a great story. Ujiri has been the best executive in the East for over a decade. He does not miss on these calls very often.
My prediction: The Raptors are a fifth or sixth seed in the East. Kawhi plays 55 to 60 games in the regular season. He is ready for the playoffs. Toronto makes it to the second round, maybe further. The city goes crazy. Kawhi’s legend grows even more.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
