The Raptors and star forward Kawhi Leonard are in agreement on a two-year contract extension worth $115MM, agent Harrison Gaines tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The deal will go into effect in 2027/28 after Leonard earns $50.3MM in ’26/27. It will include a player option for the ’28/29 season, according to Charania.
Although the completion of the Raptors’ trade for Leonard was delayed until last Monday, the two sides “maintained consistent dialogue” throughout the offseason, Charania tweets, adding that the 35-year-old expects to finish his career in Toronto. A report last Thursday indicated that Kawhi and the Raptors were in advanced discussions on an extension.
Leonard, who returns to the Raptors seven years after leading the team to its first and only NBA championship, is coming off one of the best seasons of his 15-year NBA career. In 65 games for the Clippers last season, the L.A. native averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 32.1 minutes per game with a shooting line of .505/.387/.892. He finished seventh in MVP voting and made the All-NBA second team.
More to come…