Kawhi Leonard is officially heading back to the Toronto Raptors, and it comes after the NBA disciplined the Los Angeles Clippers for breaking the league’s salary cap rules.
Leonard was at the forefront of a previously agreed-upon trade between the two franchises, but there was a question about whether it would go through.
Now, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Leonard, who helped the Raptors win the 2019 NBA title, will be heading back north of the border in exchange for 2031 and 2033 unprotected first-round picks as well as a 2027 first-round pick swap between both teams.
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The Clippers will also receive forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Gradey Dick, and second-round picks for the 2030 and 2033 NBA Drafts.
And yes, the Clippers will be getting the two first-round picks from the Raptors despite the league stripping them of five first-round picks, which were their own in 2031 and 2033 as well as others in 2029, 2030 and 2032.
After an investigation, the NBA found the Clippers to be in violation of its salary cap rules for allegations that Leonard specifically received impermissible benefits from the franchise, including being paid $28 million for a “no-show job.” This was done as a way to get around the salary cap.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is also suspended from all league and team activities for one year for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules,” a league statement said.
Leonard, through his agent Harrison Gaines, issued a statement after the league’s discipline came down on the Clippers.
” Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am,” he said, per ESPN. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family. I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap. For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with.
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”
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The deal between the teams was originally agreed in June, but it wasn’t expected to become official until July 6. However, the league’s investigation into the Clippers put the deal on hold after it was alleged that the Clippers evaded the salary cap while signing Leonard to a $103 million free agent deal in July 2019. Both teams agreed it would wait to make the deal official until after the NBA’s investigation concluded.
As part of the discipline, Ballmer was also fined $30 million, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension without pay. Gillian Zucker, the team’s president of business operations, was also suspended without pay for one year.
Leonard may be going to Toronto, but he faces discipline as well. He was fined $700,000 by the NBA, while his business advisor, Dennis Robertson, was banned from engaging in future business dealing with the league.
Ballmer noted that he would be accepting the league’s discipline and wouldn’t be seeking any legal filings to challenge its ruling.
Leonard made his seventh All-Star appearance last season, where he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game across 65 contests for Los Angeles.
