Clippers Prepare for Kawhi Leonard's Potential Return

The biggest swing of this NBA offseason still hasn’t landed.

On paper, the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to send Kawhi Leonard to his handpicked destination, the Toronto Raptors, for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in a franchise-shaping deal. In reality, everything sits on pause while the league investigates Leonard over alleged under-the-table payments.

Until the league rules, nothing moves. And the Clippers are in no rush to push it.

Clippers Ready to Welcome Kawhi Back

Longtime NBA insider Ramona Shelburne laid out the Clippers’ stance bluntly: if Toronto hesitates, Leonard stays.

“If this trade doesn’t go through, if for some reason Toronto doesn’t want to proceed with it until they know the investigation, Clippers are fine with Kawhi Leonard being back on their team.”

That line tells you plenty. Steve Ballmer’s relationship with Leonard remains strong enough that an awkward reunion isn’t really awkward at all. The franchise has bent itself around Kawhi for years; doing it again, especially with a revamped roster around him, wouldn’t be a problem.

Leonard, for his part, pushed for the move. He wants a better shot at a title and a situation where a team is ready to commit to him with another major contract. Toronto, the city where he delivered the 2019 NBA championship alongside Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, fits that bill emotionally and competitively.

But the Raptors’ affection has limits. If the league’s investigation ends with a suspension for Leonard over the alleged payments, Toronto could simply walk away.

So both teams wait. And plan.

What the Clippers Look Like With Kawhi

If the trade stalls and Leonard returns, the Clippers suddenly look dangerous again.

They would roll out a starting five built to win now:

• PG: Darius Garland
• SG: Keaton Wagler
• SF: Kawhi Leonard
• PF: Rui Hachimura
• C: Brook Lopez

Off the bench: Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones, Kris Dunn, Max Strus, Isaiah Jackson.

That’s not a rebuild. That’s a contender trying to squeeze everything it can out of Leonard’s prime while surrounding him with shooting, defense, and playmaking.

Last season, when healthy, Leonard played like a top-10 player in the league. That’s the gamble. His health has repeatedly burned the Clippers, derailing promising seasons and leaving head coach Ty Lue patching lineups in April and May. Yet the upside is too big to ignore. With Leonard on the floor, this roster has a clear focal point, a defined hierarchy, and a playoff ceiling that stretches well beyond “just get in.”

Lue would relish that group. A true two-way superstar, a rim-protecting center in Lopez, a dynamic lead guard in Garland, and real firepower coming off the bench. In a brutal Western Conference, that’s the kind of mix that doesn’t just chase the playoffs — it expects them.

Life After Kawhi: Depth Over Star Power

If the trade goes through, the Clippers’ identity shifts.

Leonard leaves. Depth arrives.

The projected lineup with the deal completed:

• PG: Garland
• SG: Wagler
• SF: Brandon Ingram
• PF: Hachimura
• C: Lopez

Bench: Beal, Jones, Strus, Jackson, Gradey Dick.

The roster suddenly stretches to at least eleven players who can make a real case for minutes. Wings everywhere, shooting everywhere, versatility all over the floor. On paper, it’s balanced. In practice, it’s missing one thing: a true No. 1.

Ingram is the obvious candidate to step into that role, but history offers a warning. He looked far more comfortable as a secondary option with the Raptors than he ever did as the primary scorer in New Orleans, where expectations weighed heavily and defenses locked in on him. On this Clippers team, he’d be asked to carry a bigger share of the offense again, without the safety net of a superstar like Leonard to draw the toughest assignments and the loudest attention.

That’s where the Western Conference reality hits. Even with the added depth, the Clippers would need to punch above their weight to climb past loaded teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. There’s less margin for error when every possession in crunch time depends on committee scoring instead of a proven closer.

Toronto’s Gamble, the League’s Call

Toronto sits in a different kind of tension.

The Raptors know exactly what Leonard can do for them. He already did it once: one season, one title, a banner that changed the franchise’s history. The idea of bringing him back, this time with Ingram heading the other way, is bold but logical for a team that still craves a clear superstar.

But everything hinges on the investigation. If the league hands down a suspension for the alleged under-the-table money, Toronto has every reason to hesitate, if not walk away entirely. Trading for Leonard is a win-now move; losing him for any significant stretch immediately undercuts the purpose of the deal.

So the Raptors wait. The Clippers wait. Leonard waits.

One path gives Los Angeles a top-tier star and a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run, health permitting. The other gives them depth, flexibility, and a more democratic offense that must survive in a conference dominated by headline names.

The decision won’t come from a front office boardroom. It will come from the league office.

When it does, the shape of the Clippers’ future — and perhaps the Raptors’ next chapter — will change in an instant.