Clippers and Raptors agree to complete Kawhi Leonard trade

The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have agreed to complete the previously paused trade that sends Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, with only a formal trade call remaining to finalize the deal. The agreement, first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, ends months of uncertainty following the NBA's investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention. The trade terms remain unchanged from the original agreement. Toronto will acquire Leonard, while the Clippers receive 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. The deal was initially agreed upon in late June but was paused on July 9 as the NBA investigated allegations that the Clippers provided Leonard with impermissible benefits to circumvent the salary cap during his 2019 free agency. The NBA completed its investigation on September 2, issuing discipline that included a $30 million fine and a one-year suspension for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Ballmer's acceptance of the penalties, announced on Sunday, cleared the final major obstacle for the trade.