Raptors, Clippers Agree to Complete Kawhi Leonard Trade After NBA Investigation The Toronto Raptors and LA Clippers have finalized a trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto after the NBA completed its salary-cap circumvention investigation on September 2, with Leonard fined but not suspended. The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to complete a trade that will send star forward Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, according to multiple media reports. The deal will become official pending a trade call, with the Raptors offering no comment on Monday. Shams Charania of ESPN was the first to report the agreement. The league completed its investigation into Leonard and the Clippers for alleged salary-cap circumvention on September 2. The NBA fined Leonard $700,000 US but declined to suspend him or void his contract.The investigation had put the deal on hold since it was first reported on June 30. The Clippers also received heavy penalties. The NBA stripped the team of five first-round selections, fined owner Steve Ballmer $30 million, and suspended him from all league and team activities for one year. Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president of basketball operations, received a six-month suspension without pay.Ballmer released a statement saying he accepted the NBA punishment. Leonard, 35, averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game last season for the Clippers in 2025-26. He shot nearly 39 percent on 445 three-point attempts. He is expected to sign a contract extension with Toronto, while the Clippers reportedly were not interested in extending his final-year contract.In return, Los Angeles will receive all-star forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks. Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in his one season in Toronto, but was injured 11 minutes into Game 5 of the Raptors first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He underwent right heel surgery on May 8.Dick, who turns 23 in November, is entering his fourth NBA season. Toronto selected him 13th overall in the 2023 draft after his college career at Kansas. He averaged 14.4 points per game and shot 35 percent from three-point range in his second NBA season, but his production declined last season. In 2025-26, he averaged six points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 14 minutes per game, all career lows, while shooting 30 percent from long range.While the deal was on hold, Leonard, Ingram, and Dick tried to participate with their new teams as much as NBA rules allowed. Leonard sat in the front row at Kyle Lowry's July 7 news conference at OVO Athletic Centre, where Lowry announced he would retire as a member of the Raptors. Ingram attended a Clippers summer league game in Las Vegas on July 10.Leonard was the central player in the Raptors 2019 championship run, earning Finals MVP before leaving for his hometown Clippers as a free agent. He spent just one season with Toronto, helping the franchise win its first NBA title. Once the trade is completed, Leonard is expected to speak to reporters at the Raptors media day on September 28. The Raptors are set to open the season against the visiting Bulls and host the Knicks on consecutive nights.