Kawhi Leonard's Trade Impact on Clippers and Raptors
The biggest swing of this NBA offseason is still hanging in midair, and one name is holding it there: Kawhi Leonard.
The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to send their franchise star to his preferred destination, the Toronto Raptors, in a blockbuster deal for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick. On paper, it’s a trade that reshapes both teams. In reality, it cannot move an inch until the league finishes its investigation into Leonard.
So everyone waits.
Clippers Ready Either Way
Inside the Clippers, there is no panic. If the deal stalls, they simply pivot back to the two-time Finals MVP.
Longtime NBA insider Ramona Shelburne underlined that stance, reporting that the Clippers are fully prepared to bring Leonard back and build around him again if Toronto hesitates while the investigation plays out. Owner Steve Ballmer’s relationship with Leonard remains strong enough that an awkward reunion is not a concern.
Leonard, for his part, asked out for two reasons: a chance to join a stronger contender and the security of one more major contract extension from a franchise eager to commit. Toronto checks both boxes emotionally and competitively. The city still reveres him for dragging the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title alongside Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, etching his name into Canadian sports history.
But that affection has a limit. If the league ultimately suspends Leonard for allegedly receiving money under the table, the Raptors could walk away from the deal before it ever becomes official.
Until then, the Clippers are essentially building two teams in parallel.
What the Clippers Look Like With Kawhi
If Leonard stays and remains at the level he showed last season, the Clippers’ starting five suddenly looks dangerous again.
Projected lineup with Leonard:
- PG: Darius Garland
- SG: Keaton Wagler
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Rui Hachimura
- C: Brook Lopez
Bench: Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones, Kris Dunn, Max Strus, Isaiah Jackson
That group has star power, shooting, and defensive size. Garland and rookie Keaton Wagler form a dynamic backcourt, giving Leonard the kind of perimeter creation he’s often lacked in Los Angeles. Lopez anchors the paint, Hachimura spaces and slashes, and the second unit carries real scoring punch with Beal and Strus.
When Leonard is right, he’s a top-10 player in the league, and for long stretches last season he looked exactly that. That’s why the Clippers keep talking themselves back into the risk. Injuries have repeatedly burned them, derailing what once looked like a title window built around Leonard, but Ty Lue would jump at the chance to coach this version of the roster.
With Kawhi, the Clippers don’t just aim for the playoffs. They expect to be in the mix.
The Leonard Trade Version
If the trade goes through, the shape of the team changes. The star power dips, the depth rises.
Projected lineup if Leonard is traded:
- PG: Darius Garland
- SG: Keaton Wagler
- SF: Brandon Ingram
- PF: Rui Hachimura
- C: Brook Lopez
Bench: Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones, Max Strus, Isaiah Jackson, Gradey Dick
Ingram slides into the starting small forward spot, with Dick joining a bench that suddenly runs 10–11 players deep. There’s shooting everywhere, multiple ball-handlers, and enough wings to match up with almost any opponent.
What there isn’t: a clear-cut No. 1 option.
Ingram thrived in Toronto as a secondary scorer, freed from the burden of having to carry an offense every night. When the New Orleans Pelicans asked him to be that primary engine, the ceiling of the team flattened. The Clippers would be asking a similar question: can he lead, or is he best as a co-star?
In a stacked Western Conference, that question matters. Without Leonard, the Clippers would need to overachieve just to climb past teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. The margin for error shrinks without a superstar who can tilt a series on his own.
So the Clippers sit in limbo, holding two blueprints for the same season. One built around a fragile but elite cornerstone, the other around depth and balance.
The league’s ruling on Kawhi Leonard will decide which version of their future they’re forced to live with.
