The holding pattern is finally at an end. Kawhi Leonard is officially a member of the Toronto Raptors once again, and the Los Angeles Clippers can now start their stint in NBA purgatory.
Earlier this summer, the two teams agreed to terms on a trade that sent Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap to Los Angeles. That deal was put on pause to await the conclusion of the NBA's almost year-long investigation into the Clippers and Leonard.
The league investigation reached its conclusion Sept. 2, ruling that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer violated the league's collective bargaining agreement by facilitating
side deals between Leonard and four companies in an effort to circumvent the salary cap. Severe punishments were handed out, but Leonard emerged relatively unscathed with a $700,000 fine. That cleared the way for the Raptors and what remains of LA's front office to move forward with the trade, which has now gone through according to ESPN.
Done deal: The LA Clippers and Raptors have both agreed to complete the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, per ESPN sources. The sides will now schedule a… pic.twitter.com/c0lk5xUGJG
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2026
Here's exactly what the Clippers are getting in return for Leonard, and how the NBA's sanctions factor in:
Brandon Ingram
Ingram is no stranger to Los Angeles. The Lakers' No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft spent much of the early part of his career under the intense microscope that comes with playing for the purple and gold and showed enough flashes of potential that he was considered a centerpiece of the haul the New Orleans Pelicans received from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. He was an All-Star in his first year with the Pels, but injuries kept him from being a consistent force, and New Orleans eventually shipped him off to Canada at the 2025 trade deadline.
The headliner of the return package, Ingram is coming off of his second career All-Star season after averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes in 77 games played in his first (and now only) season in Toronto. Those 77 games are notable because it's the most Ingram has played in a season since his rookie year a decade ago (79).
A smooth 6-8 wing, he's shown he can be a walking bucket when healthy and when paired with a true facilitator in the backcourt. Darius Garland checks that second box. As for the first one, that can only be determined in time.
Gradey Dick
Whereas Ingram is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, Gradey Dick is coming off of his worst.
The 6-8 wing out of Kansas was lauded during the 2023 draft as someone who could space the floor on offense and be a lockdown defender. His shooting hasn't exactly translated to the NBA, however. Dick shot a pedestrian 36.5% from three-point range in his rookie season; that number dropped to 35% in 2024-25 and 30.1% last season as his usage dipped to a career-low 140 minutes per game. His player efficiency rating has yet to surpass 10.7 (league average is 15) and he carries a career box plus/minus of -4.
Dick's had a hard go of it in the league, but maybe a change of scenery – specifically to a team that has no immediate future – is exactly what he needs to turn his career around.
Draft picks
This is the most important part of the trade for the Clippers. They get back two unprotected first round picks, one in 2031 and 2033, two second rounders in 2030 and '33 and a pick-swap in 2027.
How do NBA sanctions affect the trade?
Aside from delaying the trade from being completed for over two months? Significantly.
Arguably the biggest punishment (out of many) announced by commissioner Adam Silver was the forfeiture of five first round draft picks. Starting in 2029, the Clippers have been stripped of one pick in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033. But since the Leonard trade technically hadn't happened yet, they'll still be able to receive the Raptors' first rounders in '31 and '33 with no penalty, while forfeiting only their own picks. They also have a top three-protected pick swap with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2029 after forfeiting the unprotected pick they received from the Indiana Pacers that year for Ivica Zubac at last season's trade deadline.
Ingram and Dick are also two tradeable assets that the team has suddenly been strapped with after an offseason of roster overturn. Ingram has two years left on the three-year, $120 million extension he signed with the Raptors and has a player option for 2027-28. Dick is set to be a restricted free agent after this season. But with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months, any major moves seem unlikely.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kawhi Leonard trade to Raptors official. Here's how NBA sanction impacts Clippers return
