Raptors and – Toronto and Los Angeles have reportedly agreed on player compensation for a potential Kawhi Leonard trade, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst saying the deal could be completed as early as Tuesday. Leonard is entering the final year of his contract as the Clippers re
Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto is edging closer, and it sounds like the final pieces are finally in place.
The Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed on player compensation for a potential trade for the 2019 Finals MVP, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Tuesday. Windhorst also said the trade “could happen today,” framing the moment as if it’s already being measured in hours rather than weeks.
Asked about what Toronto would receive, Windhorst said he believes it would be Brandon Ingram. What the two teams were “haggling over,” according to Windhorst, was the draft-pick compensation.
Leonard’s situation has been the pressure point. The wing has one year left on his contract. and per multiple reports earlier in the week. he would only commit long-term to the Raptors. ESPN’s Shams Charania said on Monday the Clippers have shown no interest in doing a long-term contract extension. and that Leonard’s long-term future with the organization “appears to be nearing its end.”.
That looming end matters because Leonard is coming off a season that changed how teams can look at him—on the court and in negotiations. At 35. he averaged 27.9 points. 6.4 rebounds. 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals across 65 appearances. shooting 50.5 per cent from the field. 38.7 per cent from three-point range and 89.2 per cent from the free-throw line. He finished tied for seventh in MVP voting and earned the seventh All-NBA selection of his career, coming on second-team.
Rumours that Leonard and Toronto have mutual interest have been circulating for days. and Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported that the Raptors have discussed bringing him back. Grange also said Leonard is unlikely to receive an extension from the Clippers and that the team is open to finding him a new home.
A source speaking to Grange framed the dynamic bluntly: “The Clippers aren’t going to commit to anything with him, so it looks like he’s trying to strong-arm his way out of there.”
If the Raptors and Clippers truly did reach agreement on the biggest sticking points—who goes with the trade and what draft-pick compensation follows—it sets up a rare kind of convergence: Leonard’s reported willingness to commit long-term only to Toronto meets a Los Angeles stance that appears to leave little room for a future together. With Windhorst saying the trade “could happen today. ” the timeline for what has been discussed in rumour form may be about to become something far more concrete.
Kawhi Leonard Toronto Raptors Los Angeles Clippers Brandon Ingram trade NBA rumors draft-pick compensation 2019 Finals MVP All-NBA ESPN Brian Windhorst Shams Charania Sportsnet Michael Grange
So they’re trading Kawhi again like it’s a rental? Wild.
I saw “Brandon Ingram” and immediately thought the Lakers got involved somehow lol. If the Clippers won’t extend him then why even keep him? Trade rumors are moving fast though.
Wait, so Raptors get Ingram and the Clippers get draft picks? That sounds like Raptors win unless the picks are super late. Also isn’t Windhorst the guy who’s always like “could happen today” and then it doesn’t?
Honestly I don’t even trust this. ESPN says “agreement” but it’s probably just PR. If Kawhi is 35 and asking for long term in Toronto, that seems like he’s trying to get paid then bounce. And the Clippers “no interest in a long-term extension” like that means the Raptors should just give away Ingram?? Draft picks are nothing if you can’t draft right anyway. I swear teams always talk like it’s 5D chess but it’s just a mess.