Raptors and Mavericks hold real Kawhi Leonard trade talks
Kawhi Leonard trade talks are active on two fronts: Jake Fischer reports the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers held "real" conversations about sending the former Finals MVP back to Toronto, while The Athletic reports the Dallas Mavericks have discussed a package built around P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and draft picks. Leonard is entering the final year of his Clippers contract, and his extension preferences could shape every suitor's calculus.
The weekend chatter lands as Leonard's future dominates NBA offseason headlines. For fans tracking star movement in Celebrity Breaking News, the Clippers appear to be weighing a reset against the risk of losing their franchise star for nothing in 2027.
Key Takeaways
- Jake Fischer reported "real trade conversations" between the Raptors and Clippers about a Kawhi Leonard return to Toronto.
- Toronto prefers sending Brandon Ingram rather than RJ Barrett to match salary, per Fischer and CBS Sports.
- The Mavericks and Clippers have discussed sending Leonard to Dallas for P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and draft picks, league sources told The Athletic.
- Leonard is reportedly willing to sign an extension only with his former teams, the Raptors and San Antonio Spurs.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has opposed trading Leonard, but an expiring deal could push Los Angeles to move him.
Why Are the Raptors and Clippers Talking About a Kawhi Leonard Trade?
Fischer wrote on social media that Toronto and Los Angeles held genuine talks this weekend about reuniting Leonard with the franchise where he won the 2019 NBA title. CBS Sports noted Leonard is only interested in extending with his former teams, giving Toronto a built-in advantage in any negotiation.
The Clippers' motivation is tied to roster timing. CBS Sports reported Los Angeles started a youth movement by trading James Harden for Darius Garland and Ivica Zubac for Bennedict Mathurin and picks. With Leonard on an expiring contract, the Clippers could prioritize future draft capital rather than risk losing him in free agency.
Salary matching remains central. Fischer said Toronto would rather include Ingram than Barrett in a deal, though RJ Barrett has also been discussed. CBS Sports added that if the Clippers view Ingram's roughly $82 million over two seasons as undesirable money, they could demand additional assets.
What Would the Mavericks Offer the Clippers for Kawhi Leonard?
Separately, The Athletic reported that Mavericks president Masai Ujiri wants to reunite with Leonard. Ujiri famously acquired Leonard in 2018 when he ran the Toronto Raptors, a gamble that produced a championship.
League sources told The Athletic that Dallas and the Clippers discussed a framework sending the seven-time All-Star to Texas for Washington, Thompson and draft picks. Dallas News also reported Mavericks interest in that type of package as Dallas joins Toronto among Leonard suitors.
No deal is close. The Athletic's reporting describes discussions, not a finalized trade. Dallas would still need to satisfy Los Angeles on value and navigate Leonard's willingness to commit long term.
Could Kawhi Leonard's Extension List Shrink the Market?
Leonard's contract status is the elephant in every room. Marc Stein and Fischer previously reported Leonard is only interested in extending with the Raptors and Spurs, his former teams. CBS Sports emphasized that teams rarely pay a premium for a rental star who may leave again as a 2027 free agent.
That leverage could help Toronto and San Antonio and complicate Dallas's pitch. Fischer also reported the Clippers prefer to keep Leonard, and Ballmer reportedly blocked trade ideas at the in-season deadline. Still, Fischer wrote Los Angeles could trade Leonard rather than keep him on an expiring deal if no extension is reached.
Leonard has not been traded yet, and both reported frameworks remain exploratory. What is new is the volume: real Raptors-Clippers dialogue plus Mavericks-Clippers package talks, all centered on Kawhi Leonard's uncertain Clippers future.