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The Kawhi Leonard era might soon be over in Los Angeles.
A deal to send the seven-time NBA All-Star forward back to Toronto, where he won his second NBA title, is in the works, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
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The trade — which the Clippers hope to land All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks — would mark the end of another promising-but-empty chapter in the franchise’s ringless history.
Leonard, a Moreno Valley native who won his first title with the San Antonio Spurs, joined his hometown Clippers as a highly coveted free agent in July 2019 after leading Toronto to its first championship in a classic one-and-done season.
“The front office was very transparent, they want to win,” Leonard said at his introductory Clippers news conference on July 24, 2019. “Just the opportunity for us to build our own, to make history — they haven’t been to a final, haven’t won a final — that was something big and exciting for me to make my decision.”
The Raptors were in the same championship-less boat before Leonard saved them. The Clippers, meanwhile, are still trying to get over the hump.
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Read more: Plaschke: Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard was the worst free-agent signing in L.A. history
Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals over six seasons with the Clippers and was selected to four All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams and two All-Defensive teams. Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points while playing 65 games last season.
Yet most will only remember that Leonard’s tenure in the City of Angels netted zero Larry O’Brien trophies and instead plenty of load management and one ongoing salary cap circumvention investigation. The Clippers, of course, have been accused of paying Leonard $28 million through an endorsement deal with bankrupt sustainability company Aspiration.
Whether there was salary cap circumvention or not, L.A. truly went all-in on its latest bid to win a title to no avail, as…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/clippers-trying-finalize-deal-trade-205513968.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-30 20:55:00
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