Kawhi Leonard’s time in Los Angeles might be running out. And not because the Clippers are done with him. It’s looking more like he’s done with them.
According to a report from Sportsnet, Leonard is trying to force his way out of L.A. The Clippers haven’t shown any interest in locking him down long-term this offseason, and one source close to the situation put it 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.”
That’s significant for a guy who just put up a career-high 27.9 points a game while shooting 50.5% from the floor and nearly 39% from three. He played 65 games last season. That might not sound like a lot for most stars, but for Leonard it’s practically a full year. He’d averaged only 44 games per season over his previous six years with the Clippers. He missed the entire 2021-22 season. Played just 37 games in 2024-25. So this resurgent 2025-26 campaign matters. It reminded everybody what he can still do when his body holds up.
And now his old team is circling.
Raptors in the mix, with real leverage
The Toronto Raptors are reportedly engaged in serious trade talks with the Clippers. The proposed framework involves Brandon Ingram, third-year wing Gradey Dick, and draft compensation to match salaries. Leonard is set to make $50.3 million for the 2026-27 season, so it’s not a simple deal. But the Raptors have something no other team has: history.
Leonard won his only championship in Toronto back in 2019. That one magical playoff run still carries weight. Multiple sources, including Shams Charania, have reported that Leonard’s camp has told interested teams Toronto is the only franchise outside L.A. where he’d sign a long-term extension. That changes the negotiating table completely. Most other teams would be renting him for one season with no guarantee he stays. The Raptors can actually bet on him sticking around.
If a trade goes through, Leonard would reportedly be eligible to sign a two-year extension worth up to $123.7 million. That’s not chump change for a 35-year-old with his injury history. But it’s also not a crazy risk for a franchise that already got the best version of him once.
The injury question that won’t go away
Of course, nobody is pretending this is simple. Leonard’s body is the elephant in every room where his name comes up. One great season doesn’t erase six years of constant absences. Teams that aren’t Toronto have to wonder if they’d even get a full season out of him before he starts missing games again. And even the Raptors have to ask themselves if they’re chasing nostalgia or building something real.
RJ Barrett’s name was floated as a potential trade chip, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point. The talks are still described as preliminary. Nothing is imminent. But the fact that they’re happening at all tells you where this is headed. Leonard wants out. The Clippers don’t want to commit. And Toronto is the one place where he might actually stay.
This story is far from finished. But if it ends with Leonard in a Raptors uniform again, it’s going to feel a lot like a homecoming nobody saw coming five years ago.
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