LA Clippers nearing deal to send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto Raptors
SUGGESTED: Kawhi Leonard surprises IE family
SUGGESTED: The impact of the NBA All-Star Game goes beyond the glitz and glam. Clippers superstar surprised the Douglas family from Moreno Valley with a brand-new hoop as part of the team's community initiative. They plan to give away 5,600 hoops as part of the program.
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly planning to make a major move ahead of NBA free agency by trading away superstar Kawhi Leonard. The seven-time NBA All-Star is set to return to Toronto, where he helped lead the Raptors to their first championship in 2019.
What we know:
On Tuesday, ESPN reported that the Clippers traded the two-time Finals MVP in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-rounders, ESPN reported.
The move comes after Leonard reportedly said the Raptors are the only other team outside Los Angeles he'd sign a long-term deal with. The 35-year-old was entering the final year of his contract with the Clippers.
The forward is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in which he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He has one year and $50 million left on his contract.
The backstory:
In 2019, the Clippers went all-in during free agency and acquired Leonard, along with forward Paul George.
While the "213 Era" carried significant promise, those seasons were frequently plagued by injuries to both stars. However, the pairing did lead the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021. They ultimately fell short of advancing to the NBA Finals after being defeated by the Phoenix Suns.
The era notably brought in other future Hall of Famers, including James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Despite the star power, the Clips often fell short in the playoffs and failed to reach the Finals.
The Source: This story was written with information from ESPN and previous FOX 11 reports.