The Toronto Raptors have announced their "thrill" at the return of Kawhi Leonard, with the team releasing a statement of excitement following his official trade back to the franchise. This move comes after an 11-month NBA investigation into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing league salary cap rules.
Raptors general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster stated, "We’re thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto. His impact on our organization, our city, and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value." Webster added, "We believe his leadership, experience and talent will help us as we continue building toward our next championship. We also want to thank Brandon and Gradey and appreciate their work ethic, character, and basketball excellence they brought to our team every day."
The investigation, which concluded recently, found that Leonard had made an additional $28 million endorsement from Aspiration, a company owned by Steve Ballmer, who also owns the Clippers. On September 2, the Clippers and Ballmer were found guilty, resulting in the Clippers forfeiting five first-round draft picks and a $30 million fine. Leonard was fined $700,000, and his former business representative, Dennis Robertson, received a five-year ban from all NBA business dealings.
While the investigation was ongoing, the Clippers had announced in July their intention to trade Leonard to the Raptors, the team he previously led to their first NBA championship during the 2018-2019 season. However, the trade was put on hold until the investigation's conclusion.
Leonard's initial tenure with the Raptors was a single, successful season, after which he signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers. During his seven years in Los Angeles, the Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals in 2021 but were unable to advance further. With Leonard's return to Toronto, he embarks on a new chapter, while the Clippers face a period of significant change.