The long offseason trade saga of Kawhi Leonard is finally over.
The Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers have officially completed their deal, allowing the superstar to return to Canada.
The trade was finalized Monday evening after both teams called the NBA office, as the Raptors made it official via a press release.
Kawhi Leonard Raptors trade finally completed
The Toronto Raptors have acquired Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers in exchange for a huge haul consisting of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two future second-round picks (2030 and 2033).
The deal was made by both sides back in June, but it took months to finish amid the NBA's investigation into the Clippers' salary cap circumvention scandal.
The deal was finalized shortly after Clippers owner Steve Ballmer issued a statement last Sunday apologizing and taking full accountability for his team's violations involving Leonard, which resulted in the harshest punishment in NBA history.
Raptors, Clippers benefit from Kawhi Leonard trade
Kawhi Leonard is back in his old stomping ground and will lead the Toronto Raptors again for the second time around. He famously powered the franchise's first NBA title back in the 2018-19 season in one of the most epic one-and-done runs in sports, eventually leaving to come home to Los Angeles.
Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game across 65 appearances last NBA season, giving Toronto a major boost in their bid for a title hunt along with current cornerstone Scottie Barnes.
The Clippers, on the other hand, acquired a star wing in Brandon Ingram and promising young talent Gradey Dick. Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists en route to his second All-Star campaign last season in Toronto, while Dick posted 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per contest.
The draft assets the Clippers received in the Leonard trade will be pivotal to the franchise’s future, especially after the NBA’s punishment left them without first-round picks to use until 2034.