NBA: After All the Trouble, Finally a Ray of Hope: Leonard Has Signed His New Contract

The long-running saga has come to an end. Kawhi Leonard is officially leaving the Los Angeles Clippers and returning to the Toronto Raptors, with whom he won the NBA title in the 2018–19 season (the Canadian franchise’s only NBA championship).

The two-time NBA champion has agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, including a “player option” for the 2028–29 season, as reported by his agent Harrison Gaines to ESPN. It’s worth noting that the player already had a $50 million deal with the Canadian franchise for the upcoming season.

The Raptors and Clippers had already reached an agreement on June 30, calling for Leonard’s return to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks. The negotiations were put on hold when, in early July, the NBA informed the Raptors that the franchise would be held responsible for any disciplinary sanctions related to Kawhi Leonard, as part of the league’s investigation into allegations that the Clippers had circumvented the salary cap. This news brought the trade to a halt.

Earlier this month, the NBA announced a series of severe penalties for the Clippers, including the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a $30 million fine, and a one-year suspension for team owner Steve Ballmer. The action stemmed from a violation of rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention in the case involving Kawhi Leonard. Leonard paid $700,000 as restitution for the undue benefits provided by the franchise to his uncle and former agent, Dennis Robertson (the 35-year-old All-Star is now represented by Harrison Gaines). Nearly two weeks after the league announced the sanctions, the Clippers and the Raptors finalized the trade. Kawhi Leonard is now officially a Raptors player.