Skip to content
TORONTO, June 30, 2026 – Seven years after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship, Kawhi Leonard is coming back to Toronto, according to several reputable media outlets and NBA.com.
The Raptors have acquired the two-time NBA Finals MVP from the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster trade that signals the franchise is once again chasing an NBA title. Toronto is sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2031 and 2033 first-round draft picks, a 2032 first-round pick swap and two second-round selections to Los Angeles in exchange for Leonard.
It is the biggest move of the NBA off-season and reunites the Raptors with the player who delivered the greatest season in franchise history.
For Raptors fans, Leonard’s return brings back memories of the magical 2018-19 campaign, when Toronto took a calculated gamble that changed the franchise forever.
The trade that changed everything
Back in July 2018, then-president Masai Ujiri made one of the boldest trades in NBA history, sending franchise icon DeMar DeRozan, promising young centre Jakob Poeltl and a protected first-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Leonard and veteran guard Danny Green.
At the time, many questioned the move.
Leonard had played just nine games the previous season because of injury and had made no secret of the fact that his long-term preference was to return to Southern California. Toronto knew there was a good chance it would only have him for one season.
It proved to be a gamble worth taking.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points during the regular season before producing one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history. His unforgettable Game 7 buzzer-beater against Philadelphia—simply known as “The Shot”—remains one of the defining moments in Canadian sports history. Weeks later, Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP after leading Toronto past the Golden State Warriors to capture the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Although he left for the Clippers in free agency that summer, Leonard’s place in Raptors history was secure.
Why Toronto made sense again
Despite spending the past seven seasons in Los Angeles, Toronto remained one of the few destinations Leonard was reportedly open to if the Clippers decided to move him. With only one year remaining on his contract, the Raptors were also viewed as a team he would consider signing an extension with should a reunion happen.
That mutual interest helped pave the way for one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history.
Toronto also knows exactly how to manage Leonard’s workload.
During the championship season, the Raptors embraced “load management,” allowing Leonard to miss regular-season games in order to keep him healthy for the playoffs. The strategy worked perfectly, culminating in the franchise’s greatest season.
A championship piece joins a talented core
Unlike his first stint in Toronto, Leonard won’t be joining a veteran team built to win immediately.
Instead, he’ll become the leader of an exciting young core that already features Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl. Barnes has emerged as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, Barrett is coming off the best stretch of his career since arriving in Toronto, Quickley has established himself as the Raptors’ point guard of the future, and Poeltl continues to anchor the middle.
Adding Leonard instantly gives the Raptors something they have lacked since 2019—a proven superstar capable of taking over playoff games at both ends of the floor.
Of course, the biggest question remains his health.
Leonard is coming off an outstanding season in which he averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game and earned All-NBA Second Team honours. However, injuries have limited him throughout much of his tenure with the Clippers, making his availability the biggest factor in determining whether Toronto can make another deep playoff run.
A steep price to pay
The Raptors didn’t get Leonard back cheaply.
Brandon Ingram had only recently arrived in Toronto and making an impact in the lineup, expected to play a major role this season, while Gradey Dick remains one of the organization’s promising young shooters. Add in two future first-round picks, a first-round swap and second-round selections, and it is clear Toronto believes the opportunity to compete for another championship outweighs the long-term cost.
It’s another bold swing by the Raptors’ front office—one that echoes the franchise-altering decision made in 2018.
Are the Raptors finished dealing?
The Leonard trade also raises another intriguing question: Is this the final move of the summer?
While the Raps have paid a substantial price to bring back their former Championship-winning MVP, as a result, their roster should still require some tweaking. Adding another perimeter shooter or an experienced frontcourt player could further strengthen this Toronto team, which now expects to compete with the Eastern Conference’s elite.
General manager Bobby Webster has already shown he isn’t afraid to make franchise-defining decisions, and with free agency underway, it wouldn’t be surprising if another move follows.
Whether or not another trade is coming, or a free agent signing, one thing is certain.
Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto.
Seven years after delivering the city’s first NBA championship, the player who authored the most unforgettable season in Raptors history will once again wear Toronto across his chest. This time, the expectations are just as high, and the Raptors are making it clear they believe another championship run is within reach. Let’s hope so!
Lead photo: Giant Kawhi Leonard billboard dominates Yonge – Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square) for his homecoming game against the Toronto Raptors. photo by Daisy Lankstead
You must be logged in to post a comment.