Kawhi Leonard is set to return to the Toronto Raptors. The July agreement between the Canadian franchise and the LA Clippers, put on hold while the NBA investigated alleged salary-cap circumvention, has been cleared following the league's ruling and is now awaiting only formal filing.
The deal would send Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to Los Angeles along with draft capital including first-round picks, and it is expected to be completed within the next 72 hours, potentially extending to four days, a timeline outlined by CBS Sports — NBA and ClutchPoints — NBA after the ruling issued on Wednesday.
Ruling clears path for trade
The investigation, which concluded this week with severe sanctions for the Clippers — forfeiture of five first-round picks from 2029 to 2033, a financial penalty and suspensions for senior executives — was the last piece both teams were waiting for to validate the move. With the decision now official, the trade is back on track and described around the league as imminent.
Package and sporting fit
The structure reflects opposite needs. Toronto bets on bringing back a champion who knows the franchise and raises the ceiling in the East, while Los Angeles reorganizes after the institutional hit and adds an All-Star wing and a young shooter with upside.
On the court, Leonard provides mid-range creation, elite perimeter defense and playoff experience, complementing Scottie Barnes and the core that earned 46 wins and a first-round appearance last season. For the Clippers, Ingram offers proven scoring and Dick provides floor spacing as an outside threat.
What changes for each franchise
For Toronto, the move signals an immediate step up without gutting its contract base, retaining pieces such as RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl for potential further adjustments. For Los Angeles, it means managing the sanction and retooling the roster with young assets and picks to offset the loss of future capital.
Final closure now hinges on official registration at the league office, a step both sides plan to complete in the coming days after the administrative hold was lifted.
