Kawhi Leonard will be welcomed back to the Toronto Raptors with open arms and a contract extension.
According to The Athletic, Leonard has agreed to a two-year extension worth a projected $115 million. The deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. In total, it’s about $11 million less than the maximum he could have received. Before the trade and signing, Leonard was in the last year of a three-year, $149.5 million deal he signed with the Clippers in January 2024.
Leonard returned to the Raptors after a blockbuster trade sent forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round draft picks, a pick swap, and two second-rounders to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The deal, originally agreed upon earlier in the summer, had been temporarily paused while the league completed an investigation into reported salary-cap circumvention involving the Clippers. Ultimately resulting in heavy league sanctions for Los Angeles and a fine for Leonard before the transaction was cleared.
LENOARD’S REMARKABLE CAREER
Leonard stands as one of the most formidable, two-way forces in modern basketball history. Renowned for his elite defense, mechanical midrange game, and quiet composure in high-stakes moments, Leonard is a two-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP, capturing titles with both the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Nicknamed “The Klaw” for his extraordinarily large hands and elite perimeter defense, he earned consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016, making him one of only a few non-big men to win the honor multiple times. His extensive resume includes seven NBA All-Star selections, seven All-NBA team honors, seven NBA All-Defensive Team selections, an All-Star Game MVP award (2020), and an NBA steals title (2015).
Further cementing his legacy as an all-time elite forward, Leonard was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, recognizing him as one of the 75 greatest players in league history.
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