76 Days: Leonard Trade Clears for Ingram and Two Firsts

Photo: NBA.com. Official Kawhi Leonard headshot.

Seventy-six days after the June 30 agreement, Toronto completed the Kawhi Leonard trade.

The return is Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033.

Leonard sat in the front row at Kyle Lowry’s July 7 retirement presser in the OVO Athletic Centre while that package was still parked. The hold was the contract risk. On July 9 both clubs froze the paperwork because any discipline that followed Leonard’s contract would land on the Raptors. The Sep. 2 ruling answered that with a $700,000 fine, no suspension, and no voided deal. Ballmer accepted the Clippers’ $30 million fine and the five forfeited firsts over the weekend. Monday night the league approved the same package that had been sitting since June. The name finally leaves the pencil and goes on the wing next to Scottie Barnes.

Watch the first help possession once camp opens. Toronto ranked fifth in defensive rating last season. Leonard is a seven-time All-NBA defender coming off a career-high 27.9 points in 65 starts, with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals, plus 38.7 percent from deep on 6.8 attempts a night. Barnes already bends the strong-side help. Putting Leonard on the other wing turns closeouts into traps instead of rotations that arrive a beat late. That is the possession Toronto bought. Ingram averaged 21.5, 5.6, and 3.7 in his one Toronto season and went down 11 minutes into Game 5 against Cleveland with a right heel that needed May 8 surgery. Dick’s third year slid to 14 minutes and six points a night. Toronto paid unprotected firsts that convey after Leonard turns 40 because that wing changes the help timing Ingram’s heel exit already exposed in May.

The apron math is the other half of the ink. Sportsnet reported Leonard is waiving his entire 15 percent trade bonus so Toronto stays hard-capped at the first apron without expanding the deal. The next sheet is the extension, up to $126 million over two years that would keep him under contract through 2028-29. Media day is Sep. 28. Regular season tips at home Oct. 21. Camp is in Quebec City for the first time since the 2019 title-defense fall. Leonard is 35. The injury file is long. Last season’s 65 starts and 27.9 line are why Toronto still wrote the check after 76 days of waiting for the league to clear the room.

Los Angeles gets Ingram, Dick, and two unprotected firsts after surrendering its own 2029 through 2033 firsts in the probe. The Clippers needed draft capital after the forfeits. Toronto needed the wing on the sheet before camp. The June package survived because neither side had a better board once Ballmer paid the fine and moved forward.

Photo: NBAE via Getty Images, from NBA.com. Kawhi Leonard in game action.

Sources

• Reuters: Raptors acquire Leonard from Clippers following NBA probe — trade completed; package Ingram, Dick, two future firsts, one first-round swap, two seconds; $30M fine / five firsts / Ballmer year / Leonard $700k; career-high 27.9; Webster quote
• TSN / Josh Lewenberg: Leonard trade finally official — 76 days after June 30 agreement, 67 after pause, 12 after NBA ruling; unprotected 2031 and 2033 firsts + swap + two seconds; extension path up to $126M / two years through 2028-29; fifth defensive rating; Oct. 21 home tip
• Sportsnet / Canadian Press: Raptors officially acquire Leonard — package details; Leonard front row at Lowry July 7; Ingram 21.5 / 5.6 / 3.7 and May 8 heel surgery after Game 5; Dick 14 mpg / 6 PPG; media day Sep. 28; Blake Murphy report Leonard waiving 15% trade bonus / first-apron hard cap
• theScore: Clippers officially trade Kawhi to Raptors — formal Monday announce; 27.9 / 6.4 / 3.6 / 1.9; 38.7% from 6.8 threes; Ballmer Sunday accept statement
• NBA.com: Raptors-Clippers Leonard trade report — package board (2031/2033 firsts, 2030/2033 seconds, 2027 swap)
• Photos: NBA.com Leonard 202695; NBA.com trade still GettyImages-2265353189