Well, it happened once again; Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor.
Honestly, when I heard the initial rumblings regarding a potential Kawhi Leonard trade back to the Raptors, I was initially concerned about what a young (and arguably deep) Raps team would have to give up to secure a player of Kawhi’s calibre. However, I think the overall trade for the Raptors, and the general direction in which the team is headed, are both phenomenal.
Let’s discuss what the Raptors gave up. The Raptors sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap, and two second-rounders to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Kawhi.
Honestly, this is not a bad package to give up for Kawhi. Is it a lot of picks? You can argue that it is, but considering the Raptors are now playoff contenders with most of their core established, picks are a valuable asset, especially considering Kawhi’s playoff history with the Raptors.
Shifting to Gradey Dick, his minutes were being eaten up by other players and would’ve been further eaten up by the selection of Allen Graves, a 3-and-D forward. Now, Dick had real potential to return to being a good player; he put up 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the 2024-2025 season while shooting 35 percent from three. If he is high up on the Clippers bench, he could be really effective for them in the long term. After all, he is only 22 with a fresh start in a city that could be going through a rebuild depending on how the offseason goes. But he was something of a disaster in 2025-26, and he fell out of Toronto’s rotation entirely by the end of the season. His loss is a loss in theory, not in reality.
Ingram is a notable loss, since I really liked his scoring consistency and his midrange play, especially given what he did throughout the regular season for the Raps. However, if you have the ability to acquire someone of Kawhi Leonard’s calibre, you have to give up something valuable. All things considered, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles are untouchable, and RJ Barrett proved himself in the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be comfortable with moving either one of Jamal Shead or Immanuel Quickley unless you can replace the depth at the Point Guard spot. Thus Ingram had to be outbound to appeal to the Clippers and to match salaries. And besides, Leonard does everything Ingram does but better.
Even going back to the playoffs, Brandon Ingram just seemed to disappear before being ruled out with an injury. With the Raps looking to do more damage in the playoffs now that they have proved they can make it, Ingram seemed like the odd man out.
Now, Kawhi needs no introduction. He won a title with the Raps back in 2019, and had one of his best seasons as a Clipper this past season. In 65 games, he averaged 27.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds with 1.9 steals. Considering Kawhi’s history with Toronto, we could be in line for what might be the healthiest stretch of his career, and one that could help the Raptors’ young core prep for even more deep playoff runs.
Leonard can also serve as a great mentor for the Raptors’ long list of young players who have a bit of a defensive edge to them: Collin Murray-Boyles, Scottie Barnes, Allen Graves, Jamal Shead, etc.
I’m really looking forward to this deal being finalized, and seeing Kawhi in a Raptors jersey once again, and seeing what this current team looks like with shades of the championship years.
The Raptors have picked a direction, and it is straight up. The team spent a few years in a rebuild, but that is over. Toronto decided its future in trading for Leonard, and the move is the first one in a long time that is entirely about the present. The Raptors are going for it, as our own Samson Folk said they should.
It’s the best decision they’ve made in years.
