Effective trade between Clippers and Raptors
The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors and Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the LA Clippers is now effective in the NBA official player movement log, dated September 14. The move, agreed in June and held up during the salary-cap investigation, completes the core exchange between both franchises.
According to NBA.com oficial, Toronto receives Leonard while Los Angeles adds Ingram, Dick and draft consideration. RealGM had reported earlier that the pending agreement would be completed, with Leonard waiving his 15 percent trade kicker to allow formalization.
What each team receives
Ingram and Dick strengthen the Clippers perimeter
Brandon Ingram, a 6-foot-8, 29-year-old forward, arrives in Los Angeles as a mature scoring and creation piece. After years as an offensive anchor with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Texas native brings versatile scoring, outside shooting and one-on-one creation, a profile that fits a Clippers team that needed to rebalance its offense after losing Leonard.
Gradey Dick, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-7 Canadian guard-forward, completes the younger part of the package. Selected in the 2023 draft lottery, Dick arrives with room to grow and a more expandable rotation role in Los Angeles than in a Toronto team that prioritized his development within a rebuilding project.
Leonard returns to Toronto
Kawhi Leonard, a 6-foot-6, 35-year-old forward, returns to the franchise with which he won the 2019 title before signing with Los Angeles the following summer. His comeback gives Toronto an elite defensive star and an efficient scorer in closing situations, even though his recent availability will still define the project ceiling.
A closing chapter after weeks of waiting
The trade was agreed on June 30 but remained unformalized while the league completed its cap-circumvention investigation. The punishment issued to the Clippers and Leonard in early September opened the window to complete the move thirteen days later.
RealGM reported that Leonard waived a $7.45 million trade kicker to facilitate the closing and keep Toronto below the first apron. The same report notes that the original framework also included first- and second-round picks in addition to the three players involved.
Basketball fit
For Toronto, Leonard restores contender status in the East and closes a loop left open since his 2019 departure. The Raptors regain a known star with the ability to raise the team defensive ceiling.
The Clippers, meanwhile, bet on a younger and more flexible profile: Ingram can assume the primary scoring role and Dick adds medium-term upside, while draft consideration strengthens future assets. Leonard departure also eases the salary structure after years of sanctions and contractual tension.
