Feb 11, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after sinking the game winning basket against Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after sinking the game winning basket against Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
After the official announcement of Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors, an NBA insider says both sides are nearing a contract extension that could guarantee Leonard through 2029.
“The Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard have held advanced discussions and are nearing an agreement on a contract extension, according to league sources. Leonard is eligible to sign for upwards of two years, $126 million,” wrote Jake L. Fischer of Bleacher Report on X.
If this deal follows the usual 8% increase structure, Leonard’s first-year salary would be about $61 million, while the 2028-29 season could be a $65 million player option.
The 35-year-old star is currently on a $50.3 million salary for 2026-27 in the final season of his expiring contract. Coming off a year when Leonard finished seventh in MVP voting for the regular season, the seven-time All-Star averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from behind the three-point line in 2025-26.
This impending contract extension makes the cumulative $8.2 million hit on Kawhi Leonard’s money ($700K fine, plus $7.45 million trade bonus waived) this summer seem worth the sacrifice to come out of a tainted situation in Los Angeles.
According to sources, multiple other teams, like the Pistons and the Timberwolves, had promised to extend Leonard after trading for him and offered similar money to what the Raptors can. But since he was on an expiring deal this summer, he took the time and leverage to ‘weed out’ teams that he doesn’t want to play for.
The last time Leonard arrived in Toronto, he was also on an expiring deal with the Spurs. In just one season with the franchise, he won a championship and a Finals MVP, making himself a Raptors legend. So, playing out the final years of your career in a city where you already won a championship seemed like the best option for Leonard.
However, when asked why he came back to Toronto, Leonard denies that chasing a championship was part of his reason for joining the Raptors and snubbing other teams.
“I’m not really championship-chasing, trying to find the best team I could win. I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys,” said Leonard in the Raptors ‘Open Gym’ video.
“My son was born here. He’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back. Now he’s back, and he’s able to see it rather than me telling him the great stories.”
So it looks like the contract extension Kawhi Leonard hopes to sign could ensure the former NBA champion retires in Toronto. It will certainly be interesting to see how Leonard closes out his final playing days in Toronto.