The Toronto Raptors are nearing an agreement on a contract extension with newly acquired forward Kawhi Leonard, according to multiple reports.
Per NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Leonard is eligible to sign for upwards of two years, $126 million, though there is no indication of what kind of contract Leonard may receive.
The Raptors acquired Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders.
The original deal was first reported on June 30, but was held up by the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap.
The NBA announced Sept. 2 that they had found the Clippers had violated cap rules but declined to suspend Leonard or void his current contract.
The NBA directed most of its punishment at the Clippers, who lost five first-round picks and were fined $30 million. Ballmer was suspended for one year and two other high-ranking Clippers officials were also suspended.
Leonard was also fined $700,000 and his uncle, Dennis Robertson, who helped facilitate these deals deemed improper, was prohibited from conducting business with NBA teams and affiliates for five years.
Leonard released a statement after news broke of the league’s findings, saying he accepts responsibility for “lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle” and regrets “the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.”
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” read the end of his statement.
Despite originally challenging the ruling, Ballmer announced on Sunday that he would comply with the penalties and expressed his desire to move on.
Leonard is returning to the Raptors for a second time, after the team traded DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs to acquire the forward in 2018.
In his lone season in Toronto in 2019, Leonard was an All-Star, earned second-team All-NBA honours and picked up a Finals MVP award after leading the Raptors to their first and only championship.
He hit perhaps the most famous shot in Raptors history, when he dribbled to the far corner and hit a buzzer-beating two-pointer over Joel Embiid to send the Raptors to a 92-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Now 35, Leonard has spent the past seven seasons with the Clippers. He was named an All-Star this past season after averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
“I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back,” Leonard said in an appearance on Open Gym. “So now’s he’s back and he’s able to see it rather than me telling him great stories that happened.”
“I’m not here to take over anything,” Leonard said. “I want to help your vision. Help Scottie [Barnes]. I just want to win. If it’s Scottie’s team, it’s his team. I just want to do whatever it takes to help you guys win.”
Over his 14-year career, Leonard, who was originally selected by the Spurs with the 15th-overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-Defensive Team member, two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP.
