Kawhi Leonard Escapes Clippers Disaster With Blockbuster Raptors Return

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to leave and join his former team, the Toronto Raptors, once a previously agreed trade goes through.

Leonard was hit with a $700,000 fine for his role in the Clippers’ cap-circumvention deal, while the LA franchise got a massive penalty, including a loss of picks and suspensions for the Clippers’ higher-ups.

Now that the NBA has ruled on Leonard and the Clippers, both parties can move forward with the trade the Clippers and Raptors agreed to.

Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a missed basket in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

In his statement, Leonard accepted responsibility for people representing him making these illegal advances in the NBA.

“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am,” Leonard said in a statement. “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.”

The trade will see Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a 2027 pick swap, and two second-round selections head to Los Angeles for Leonard.

Sep 30, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) talks with team owner Steve Ballmer during media day at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Clippers issued a strong statement to the NBA, denying involvement in an alleged cap-circumvention scheme.

“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” the team said in a statement.

“What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy.

“For the past year, we cooperated fully and in good faith and we will now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence.  

“We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”

It is hard to know what comes next, given that the team has limited options to appeal the penalty and suspensions under the collective bargaining agreement.

There may be creative legal options, but those remain unknown at this point.