More than two months after first reaching a trade agreement, the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have finalized their blockbuster swap to send two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
In return, the Clippers receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a first-round pick swap.
The two sides initially agreed to the trade on June 30 but held off on making it official while the NBA's investigation into the Clippers' salary-cap violations continued. The Raptors said they paused the deal after the league told them that they would assume the risk of any future penalties related to Leonard.
The NBA announced its findings earlier this month after a yearlong investigation by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz into allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by using a third-party endorsement deal to pay Leonard outside of his contract. As punishment, the league stripped the Clippers of five future first-round picks, fined them $30 million, and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year from all NBA and team activities.
The reported confirmation of the trade comes a day after Ballmer announced that he will accept the NBA's punishments. The Clippers initially rejected the league's ruling, saying they intended to "vigorously challenge" the findings and penalties.
"This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets," Ballmer said in a statement Sunday. "We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward."
Leonard, who said that he had "no knowledge" of anyone's intent to circumvent the cap, wasn't suspended by the league but was ordered to pay back $700,000. Leonard's uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, was also banned for five years from contacting NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of players, employees, or any league or team personnel.
Last season, Leonard scored a career-best 27.9 points per game in 65 starts while adding 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per contest. He also shot 38.7% from deep on a team-high 6.8 attempts per game. Leonard helped lead the Raptors to their only championship in franchise history in 2019 before leaving for the Clippers that summer.
