At 35, Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto? Raptors and Clippers open trade talks, with Ingram as a potential key asset.

On June 29 Beijing time, the possibility of Kawhi Leonard once again moving north to the Raptors is growing more distinct. According to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers engaged in serious trade talks about the star forward over the past weekend.

Now 35 years old, Leonard is in the last year of his contract with a $50.3 million salary. He will become a full unrestricted free agent next summer. Fisher had previously indicated thatthe Raptors are interested in bringing back the seven-time All-Star; if traded to Toronto, Leonard would be willing to sign a contract extension with the team ahead of time.

Last season, Leonard achieved a career-best combination of availability and efficiency: he played 65 regular-season games, averaging a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, with shooting splits of 50.5% from the field, 38.7% from three, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. He finished tied for seventh in MVP voting and earned his seventh All-NBA selection (Second Team).However, Fisher added that Leonard's personal preference leans toward staying with his hometown team, the Clippers.

It remains unclear what the Raptors are willing to offer in a trade for Leonard — the team controls all of its own first-round and second-round picks through 2032, along with several promising young players and multiple expiring contracts. Yet general manager Bobby Webster acknowledged that the team is ready to act when opportunities arise in the trade market.

"We have a lot of assets, we have our own first-round picks, and a bunch of young guys on rookie contracts. That core made us the youngest playoff team. But at some point, we need to seize the right opportunity in the trade market, so both this offseason and before the next trade deadline, we'll be actively looking to make moves," Webster said after the first round of the draft.

Fisher revealed that if a Leonard trade happens, the Raptors would prefer to send out Brandon Ingram rather than their local core player, RJ Barrett.

Sportsnet reporter Michael Grange analyzes the Raptors' offseason priorities and potential free-agent targets, noting that Eastern Conference rivals are getting stronger each year, and Toronto urgently needs to upgrade its roster.

Barrett, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, just finished an impressive playoff run: averaging 24.1 points (tied with Barnes for the team lead), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 38.6% from three, and hitting a game-winner in Game 6. The 25-year-old is eligible for a contract extension now, with his current deal having just one year left at $29.6 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and his salary could jump significantly for the 2027-28 season.

In contrast, Ingram's playoff performance dropped sharply: over five postseason games, he averaged only 12 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2 turnovers per game, shooting just 32.8% from the field before being sidelined with a heel injury. During the regular season, he played 77 games, averaged a team-high 21.5 points, and earned his second All-Star selection — a stark contrast to his playoff output.

Looking back at Leonard's career: the two-time Defensive Player of the Year was traded from the Spurs to the Raptors in 2018, leading Toronto to its first-ever NBA championship and winning his second Finals MVP trophy. Over 24 playoff games that year, Leonard averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals.

After winning the title, he chose not to stay with the Raptors but returned to his hometown Los Angeles to join the Clippers alongside Paul George.

Over the following eight years, the Clippers made the playoffs six times but reached the conference finals only once. Last season, the team finished a mediocre 42-40, and the franchise now appears ready to change its roster-building approach. At the February trade deadline, the Clippers sent away veterans Harden and Zubac, acquiring young players Garland and Mathurin along with the fifth pick, which they used to select 19-year-old Wagler.

The Raptors returned to the playoffs last season with a 46-36 record — their first postseason appearance since 2022 — but were eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Game 7 loss.

Before LaMelo Ball was traded to the Timberwolves, the Raptors had shown interest in acquiring the All-Star point guard. According to Sportsnet's Michael Grange, if Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves the Bucks and Milwaukee undergoes a fire sale, Toronto would aggressively pursue Bucks center Myles Turner.

The Raptors are not the only team pursuing Leonard. ESPN's Brian Windhorst notes that the Detroit Pistons are also worth watching, as they traded Isaiah Stewart to the Grizzlies, freeing up significant salary cap space.