Raptors get promising timeline update for Clippers' Kawhi Leonard trade after a lengthy holdup image
The Toronto Raptors are trying to adjust to a brand-new Eastern Conference that will be a juggernaut this upcoming season. The teams in the East have added some significant stars to their rosters, with the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers being two of the biggest examples.
Toronto is looking to be competitive at the very least. For this reason, they completed a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard.
“The LA Clippers have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal marks a return to Canada for the star who led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
The trade has still not gone through after the Clippers received their punishment from the NBA. However, Leonard has been on a team trip with the Raptors.
“Per league sources, the Raptors, Leonard's camp and the camps of other prominent players in the trade remain very confident it will go through soon. Leonard, it should be noted, is known to be with his Raptors teammates (in an unofficial capacity) on a retreat of sorts in Miami this week," The Athletic's Sam Amick wrote.
When the punishment was given, the trade was expected to be finalized a few days later. Now, the latest update suggests it will be completed before the start of training camp.
“The Kawhi Leonard trade is expected to be officially finalized before training camps begin in two weeks,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
The Raptors getting Leonard back is huge, as they are bringing back the guy who was a huge part of bringing them an NBA championship. He is looking to bring Toronto back to being a true contender like they were then, with a mix of young and veteran players.
With the trade expected to get done in the next two weeks, that is great news for the Raptors. The organization is hoping it can get back to playing serious basketball, and it will be fun to watch.
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