Kawhi Leonard is expected to join the Toronto Raptors for training camp in Quebec City despite the blockbuster trade that would send him back to the franchise remaining on hold, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. The development suggests both Leonard and the Raptors continue preparing for the possibility that the deal will eventually be completed.
Grange reported that if the NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers had already uncovered definitive evidence of salary-cap circumvention involving Leonard, those findings likely would have surfaced months ago. That has fueled optimism that the trade could still move forward once the league concludes its review.
The proposed trade, originally agreed to on June 30, would send Leonard from the Clippers to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round selections. However, the agreement has been delayed because the Raptors are unwilling to assume potential penalties tied to the NBA’s ongoing investigation.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the NBA informed both teams on July 9 that any discipline imposed on Leonard after the trade is completed would become Toronto’s responsibility. The Raptors have therefore declined to finalize the transaction until the investigation reaches a resolution.
The league is examining allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through a reported $28 million endorsement agreement between Leonard and Aspiration, a bankrupt financial technology company that also held a separate 23-year, $300 million partnership with the Clippers. The Clippers have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported that the investigation could extend into 2027 if the NBA, the Clippers and the National Basketball Players Association cannot agree on the findings or any proposed discipline. In that case, the matter could proceed to arbitration before an independent arbitrator.
Under the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, confirmed salary-cap circumvention violations can carry severe consequences, including fines of up to $7.5 million, forfeiture of draft picks, suspensions of team personnel for as long as one year and, in the most serious cases, the voiding of a player’s contract. Those possibilities explain Toronto’s reluctance to inherit any legal or financial risk tied to alleged conduct that predates Leonard’s arrival.
Despite the uncertainty, Leonard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. The two-time Finals MVP averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game during the 2025-26 campaign, giving Toronto strong incentive to remain patient. The Raptors finished 46-36, earned the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games before being eliminated in the first round.
If the trade is eventually approved, Leonard would headline a roster featuring All-Star Scottie Barnes, who averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists while earning All-Defensive Second Team honors. Immanuel Quickley added 16.4 points and 5.9 assists per game last season, while RJ Barrett contributed 19.3 points per contest.
Toronto would also be sacrificing significant talent and draft capital to reacquire Leonard. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 21.5 points per game in 2025-26, while the package also includes multiple first-round assets.
