Josh Lewenberg:
Kawhi Leonard in the house, sitting front row for the Kyle Lowry retirement. — 7/7/2026
x.com
Esfandiar Baraheni: Kyle
Lowry on the Kawhi Leonard trade x2: “I appreciate him coming here… just to be here for my moment. I think the moves that Bobby is making and what he’s doing, they know what they’re doing, they’re trying to win a championship… a championship is his only aspiration.” — 7/7/2026
x.com
Three key reasons Leonard was open to this deal to Toronto, according to sources: Familiarity with a Toronto organization that has the majority of its front office structure in place, now led by executive vice president Bobby Webster. Leonard also likes the city of Toronto and believes the Raptors can contend in the Eastern Conference. Leonard envisions ending his career in Toronto, sources said.
Leonard will now be eligible to sign up to a two-year, $123.7 million extension with his new team, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. — 7/6/2026
ESPN
Gaines will meet with Raptors officials in Toronto over the coming days to discuss the future of Leonard, who has one season and $50.3 million remaining on his contract. Gaines has worked closely with Leonard over the past year as his business attorney. The change is a major shift for Leonard, who previously had Mitch Frankel and his uncle and business adviser Dennis Robertson handle all of his affairs. Frankel represented Leonard on his negotiations with the
LA Clippers, including a three-year extension signed in 2024. — 7/6/2026
ESPN
Kawhi Leonard and the
Toronto Raptors are expected to start contract extension talks this week in Toronto after his trade becomes official -- and the two-time Finals MVP will do so with new representation.
Leonard has hired Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports as his new agent to oversee negotiations, sources told ESPN. — 7/6/2026
ESPN
Josh Lewenberg: SGA on Kawhi returning to the Raptors: “For as long as I can remember, Toronto has loved the Raptors… I don’t think that’s ever going to change no matter who plays for them.
But adding a guy like that to your roster amplifies everything… Toronto should be a good team next year” — 7/3/2026
x.com
However, because the Raptors used the salaries of Ingram and Dick to bring back more salary than they traded away in the form of Leonard, the Raptors are “hard-capped” at the first apron, which is set at a smidge beyond $209 million, this season. As of now,
Leonard isn’t in a position to accept his trade kicker because Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Poeltl have $6.5 million worth of incentives that count toward the hard cap, even if they are not ultimately reached, per The Athletic’s John Hollinger. — 7/2/2026
New York Times
According to a team source,
the matter of Kawhi Leonard’s trade kicker is still undetermined, with the Raptors considering several different structures to allow them to fill out their roster. A lot should be clearer by Monday at noon, when the moratorium is lifted. — 7/2/2026
New York Times
Shams Charania:
Free agent forward Kyle Anderson has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. Anderson enters his 13th NBA season providing depth to the Raptors roster, and reunites with former San Antonio teammate Kawhi Leonard. — 7/2/2026
x.com
Crazy Stats:
When Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors, he was the winningest player in @NBA history (min. 300 games played, including playoffs). He is returning as the 11th-winningest player in league history. — 7/1/2026
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