The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a trade six weeks ago that would have sent Leonard back to Toronto, where he starred for the 2018-19 NBA season and led the Raptors to their lone NBA title in franchise history.
However, by July 9, Leonard’s Raptors return was placed “on hold pending the outcome of the NBA’s investigation” into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by compensating Leonard through a $28 million endorsement deal with the since-bankrupt Aspiration.
Pablo Torre won the Pulitzer Prize for uncovering the Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention on his Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast. Torre has since uncovered another alleged shady endorsement deal — this time, a “multimillion-dollar” pact with Daktronics that troubled Brian Windhorst to his core — as the Pablo Torre Finds Out investigative series on the Clippers’ business with Leonard hit Part 13 last week.
Despite this hanging over his head, Leonard looks a lot like a man who expects to play in Toronto next season.
Leonard looks unbothered
On Tuesday, Leonard attended the women’s quarterfinals at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
The two-time NBA champion enjoyed Elena Rybakina’s riveting three-set victory over Naomi Osaka. He also chopped it up with Coco Gauff, a fellow New Balance athlete, who cruised to the semifinal on a walkover.
Kawhi Leonard makes his way to watch the women’s quarterfinal at the National Bank Open in Toronto 👀
📺: #NBO26 live on SN360
📲: Stream on Sportsnet+ pic.twitter.com/qvJ8L2ANk0— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2026
Stars are out in Toronto 💫
A front-row seat at #NBO26 for Kawhi Leonard 😏 pic.twitter.com/8meEoQBeih
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 12, 2026
Coco Gauff 🤝 Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com/KJPFGOXtEu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 12, 2026
“Would you look at is? The fun guy himself, Kawhi Leonard,” Danielle Michaud said on the Sportsnet broadcast.
What’s next for Kawhi Leonard?
Earlier this week, Jake Fischer reported that Kawhi Leonard is operating “under the belief” that the NBA’s ongoing investigation will conclude before the start of training camp.
“The seven-time All-Star remains on course to join the Toronto Raptors,” Fischer wrote.
If that proves to be reality, Leonard’s media day could somehow be even more epic than his eternally memeable “I’m a fun guy” clip from his first Raptors press conference in 2018.
About Megan Armstrong
Since first getting published as a student by the Kansas City Star in 2013, Megan Armstrong has gone wherever curiosity and stories have taken her, specializing in sports, media, music, and culture coverage. She also has an extensive background in interviewing and profiling public figures. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Boardroom, Bleacher Report, Esquire, GQ, GRAMMY.com, NYLON, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, and elsewhere.