Clippers Nearing Deal To Send Kawhi Leonard To Raptors: Report

LOS ANGELES, CA — On the same day LeBron James confirmed he'll be leaving the Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday were reported to be nearing a deal to send star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.

ESPN reported that the team was looking to deal Leonard in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and various draft picks. There was no official word from Leonard or the Clippers.

The move would return Leonard to the team he led to an NBA championship in 2019.

An L.A. native, Leonard also won an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. He was named NBA Finals MVP in both of his championship seasons. He is also a seven-time All-Star and the 2020 All-Star Game MVP.

He joined the Clippers in 2019 and had several injury-plagued seasons, including missing the entire 2021-22 season. But he showed a resurgence last season, reaching a career-high 27.9 points per game. The Clippers, however, failed to reach the postseason, finishing with a 42-40 record.

His Clippers tenure was also marred by allegations the team had circumvented the NBA's salary cap when it signed Leonard through a $28 million endorsement deal the player received with an environmental company — without actually being required to perform any work. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any wrongdoing.