By admin 
A week after the NBA handed out punishments to the parties involved in the salary cap circumvention case investigated by the league, Kawhi Leonard remains a Clipper.
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Leonard was originally traded to the Toronto Raptors at the start of free agency. However, with the NBA investigation concluded, the deal was put on hold and has remained there ever since. Many expected the trade to be consummated after no suspension was issued against Kawhi. But right now, that transaction has stalled.
Despite that, Leonard joined some of the Raptors in an unofficial mini-camp in Miami this week, even wearing official Toronto team gear while doing individual workouts only at the University of Miami gym.
Later, Canadian TV host Alex Glikman accidentally ran into Kawhi on the streets of Miami and asked the 2019 Finals MVP about his impending return to the Raptors.
“You coming to Toronto, right?” he asked Leonard casually. “Please tell me you’re coming to Toronto.”
“I hope so,” Leonard replied.
“We need you back,” Glikman added, voicing what every Torontonian has in mind right now.
“We gonna win,” Kawhi told him.
Toronto wants Kawhi back
Although he spurned them in 2019, Toronto fans still love Kawhi as they did when he casually came to town in 2018 and led the Raptors to one of the most impressive, if not the greatest, one-year tenures in NBA history, culminating in the first-ever Larry O’Brien Trophy for the Canadian franchise.
The entire city wanted him to re-sign with the Raptors. However, Leonard chose to play close to home and signed with the L.A. Clippers in a deal later discovered to include illegal side contracts that circumvented the salary cap and paid Kawhi more than the CBA allowed.
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The scheme was exposed by journalist Pablo Torre last year. After a lengthy investigation and strong denial by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, the NBA found Leonard, his uncle Dennis Robertson and the Clippers guilty as charged.
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Kawhi trade is on hold
Before the ruling was handed out, the Clippers traded Leonard back to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, two second-rounders, and a 2027 first-round pick swap. However, with the league’s decision expected to be announced soon, that trade was put on hold and has not moved since.
“They are not moving forward with this trade at this point. They are saying to Toronto, they are saying to Kawhi, they are saying to Brandon Ingram’s side that they are working through their front office structure before moving forward with this. But everyone else, every other party, is acting as if this deal is going to get done imminently,”reported Jake Fischer.
Fischer also reported that the Clippers are “frustrated, upset, and have resentment” towards Kawhi because they felt the NBA left him off the hook while the team was severely punished. But Jake also said that there is no indication that the Clippers are spiteful or trying to get tricky.
Yet while the emotions have changed in L.A., Toronto is looking forward to welcoming its prodigal son and hopes he makes good on his promise of another championship.
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This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 3:01 AM.