Toronto Raptors acquire Kawhi Leonard in trade with Clippers

By Mason Reed — 1 July 2026 — 4 min read

The Toronto Raptors have officially re-acquired Kawhi Leonard in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. This move comes after recent trade rumors and signifies a shift in the Raptors’ organizational direction. The deal involved sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, multiple first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks to the Clippers.

Leonard’s return marks his first time back with the team since he led them to an NBA championship in 2019. The Raptors, who were one of the most improved teams last season, winning 16 more games than in the previous season, are aiming to further enhance their competitive standing in the Eastern Conference.

Projected Starting Lineup

With Leonard joining the roster, a projected starting lineup for the Raptors includes Immanuel Quickley at point guard, RJ Barrett at shooting guard, Kawhi Leonard at small forward, Scottie Barnes at power forward, and Jakob Poeltl at center. This configuration is anticipated to be the most talented lineup the team has fielded since Leonard’s initial tenure.

Leonard is expected to become the primary scorer in half-court situations. Scottie Barnes, who is 24 years old, has developed into an All-Star and is projected to continue his improvement. Leonard’s ability to create his own offense is seen as filling a significant need for the Raptors. His presence could also allow Barnes to focus more on creating opportunities for teammates and attacking mismatches, rather than consistently carrying the offensive load.

Impact on Team Performance

The acquisition of Leonard is expected to bolster the Raptors’ defense, which ranked fifth in the league last season. While they were strong defensively overall, they ranked 12th against top 10 offenses and in the first round of the playoffs. Leonard, despite not being the same defender as several years ago, remains a positive defensive presence and does not frequently commit fouls. Last season, he recorded 122 steals, 27 blocks, and 78 personal fouls, achieving the highest ratio of blocks and steals per foul among 378 players with at least 500 minutes played.

The Raptors also struggled with scoring late in the shot clock, with an effective field goal percentage of 43.3% in the last six seconds. Leonard has demonstrated efficiency in these situations, with an effective field goal percentage of 53.0% over the last three seasons, ranking ninth among 131 players with at least 250 late-clock field goal attempts. His isolation scoring also proved more efficient than Brandon Ingram’s during the same period.

The trade involves some risk, particularly concerning Leonard’s health. Since leaving the Raptors, he has appeared in 60 games only twice in seven seasons. With Leonard having turned 35, his durability is a consideration. However, if he remains healthy, the Raptors are expected to be a top team in the East.

Departures and Clippers’ Outlook

The Raptors parted with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in the trade. Ingram averaged 21.5 points per game last season and shot just over 38 percent from beyond the arc. Dick, who is 22 years old, averaged 9.2 points per game in his career. Both players were considered valuable components of the Raptors’ previous roster construction.

For the Los Angeles Clippers, this trade appears to be a step in a five-month process to rebuild their roster with a younger core. Over Leonard’s tenure in Los Angeles, the Clippers had the league’s fourth-best regular-season record. The team’s continuity rate for the upcoming season is notably low, with players under contract accounting for only 42% of their minutes from the previous season. This rate would increase to 52% if restricted free agents Bennedict Mathurin and Jordan Miller are re-signed. The Clippers have significantly reshaped their roster since February 1, and their future is reportedly centered around Darius Garland and rookie guard Keaton Wagler.

Leonard’s 2019 championship run with the Raptors was part of a strong playoff career, as he is considered one of the best playoff performers in NBA history. He has averaged 21.5 points per game in 146 playoff games, with a true shooting percentage of 62.1%. Since 2017, he has averaged 28.6 points on a true shooting percentage of 63.2% over 71 playoff games, including three postseasons with at least 25 points and a true shooting percentage of 60% or better in 10 or more games.

Source: si.com

Mason Reed

Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.