Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is reportedly close to heading back to Toronto in a deal that would send the future Hall of Famer to the Raptors for two roster players and significant draft compensation.
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The Clippers will receive forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two first-round picks and two seconds, according to Chris Haynes of NBA.com. The trade still needs to be finalized when teams can officially sign free agents July 6.
Leonard, who is coming off one of his best seasons, wanted a hefty contract extension, which the Clippers were unwilling to meet. He had one year and $50 million left on his deal.
Toronto was the only team reportedly willing to meet his demands for an extension, giving Leonard the chance to contend for a title and end his career in the city where he won his second of his NBA championship.
Leonard joined the Raptors in 2018 after helping the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA championship in 2014.
Leonard leaves the Clippers after his best season since the last time he dribbled a basketball in Toronto.
The Clippers’ star was among the best players in the league during the second half of the season, when he pulled the team out of a 6-12 hole to a 42-40 finish. He ended the season averaging a career-best 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists and receiving his seventh All-Star nod.
Leonard also leaves behind a trail of injuries, disappointing seasons and unfulfilled promises.
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In a much-heralded move, the Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $103 million contract then acquired Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder to form a formidable frontcourt that would make them immediate title contenders.
Leonard debuted for the Clippers on Oct. 22, 2019, posting 30 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a victory against the Lakers. Two nights later, he tied a career-high nine assists against the Golden State Warriors.
In December that season, Leonard scored a then-season high 42 points and George added 46 points in a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the first time in franchise history that two players scored 40 or more points in a game.
The 213 ERA had started.
But that much-celebrated pairing never reached the expected pinnacle, largely in part because of Leonard’s knee injuries.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP led the Clippers to the Western Conference semifinals in 2021, but Leonard missed the series because of what the team announced was a right knee sprain. The injury turned out to be a partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament that required surgery that sidelined him the entire next season.
He returned to the court for the 2022-23 season but that, too, ended with him on the bench with a torn meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee. It was a scenario that played out the same the following season and into the 2024-25 season.
Leonard missed the first three months of that season because of foot and ankle injuries, returning in January. He played in just 37 games.
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More to come on this story.