NBA insider says Toronto Raptors should renegotiate trade for Kawhi Leonard

The NBA's cap-circumvention investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers is finally over, and the Toronto Raptors are once again one step closer to acquiring the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

To recap, Toronto agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and four future draft picks, plus a pick swap, to the Clippers for the 35-year-old star. However, one NBA insider thinks the Raptors' front office might now be overpaying given the outcome of the investigation.

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast that he believes Toronto could re-jig the deal given the situation facing the Clippers.

"Watch for what happens with this Kawhi-Toronto trade," said Windhorst. "The Clippers cannot bring Kawhi back next year; that's why, if I'm Toronto, I might open up the terms of the trade.

Interesting comments @WindhorstESPN on The Hoop Collective show on what could happen with the #Raptors-Kawhi Leonard trade.

"Watch for what happens with this Kawhi-Toronto trade. [...] The Clippers cannot bring Kawhi back next year; that's why, if I'm Toronto, I might open up… pic.twitter.com/EKpQEPZw9P

— Marley Dickinson (@marleydickinson) September 3, 2026

"Ingram is a big swing piece [in this trade]. It would be uncomfortable to have Brandon Ingram back, but not as uncomfortable as it would be to have Kawhi back to the Clippers."

After a year-long investigation, the NBA handed out several penalties to the Clippers and the franchise's front office. The team was stripped of five future first-round draft picks, while owner Steve Ballmer was fined $30 million and given a one-year suspension from team operations.

Windhorst's point is that the Raptors now have a huge amount of leverage in the trade, especially given that the Clippers are hurting for draft picks and Toronto is offering them four, plus a pick swap in 2027.

In this specific case, because the trade is still paused, the Raptors can renegotiate or restructure the deal, though only up until the moment the league approves and processes the paperwork.

If Toronto were to restructure the trade, however, it wouldn't have the cap space to hold onto both Leonard and Ingram, as doing so would push the team well above the NBA's second apron of $221.7 million. With Leonard, the Raptors currently sit at the first apron of $209 million, which places additional restrictions on teams that exceed the threshold.

Leonard was fined $700,000 in relation to the NBA's cap circumvention probe, but will not face a suspension. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

The most likely scenario would be Toronto restructuring the draft-pick portion of the deal or asking for more in return for Leonard, who at this point likely won't play another game in a Clippers uniform.

Whatever happens, Leonard already appears focused on the next chapter with the team he helped lead to an NBA Championship in 2019.

On Wednesday, he addressed the case on his social media and concluded with these words:

"As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate."