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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The NBA has had multiple blockbuster moves over the last week. The Bucks finally moved on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending him to Miami. Julius Randle got shipped out of Minnesota and over to Brooklyn. And on Thursday morning, the Timberwolves sent Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks for Hornets star LaMelo Ball.
Free agency kicks off on June 30, and there's still plenty of names swirling around in trade rumors, including Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
On Thursday's edition of "The Kevin O'Connor Show," Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor floated the idea that the Toronto Raptors, the same franchise that Leonard won a title with in 2019, could take him back to Toronto in 2026.
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"I could definitely see Toronto trading for Kawhi Leonard," O'Connor said. "Try to do it again, repeat history."
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Leonard has only one year left on his three-year, $153 million contract, and per NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Clippers are expected to move him if they can't lock him up to an extension. The team doesn't plan to let him walk on an expiring deal. Add in the fact that he's coming off a career year, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, and you've got one of the league's most intriguing trade chips.
That said, there's still one looming issue. The NBA is still investigating whether Leonard and the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through his sponsorship agreement with Aspiration, run by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted that the league may not allow any trade or extension to go through until that investigation wraps up.
But if it does, Toronto is one of the most exciting possibilities.
The Raptors have been linked at various points to several top trade targets, including Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, and, more recently, LaMelo Ball. Before the Timberwolves pulled the trigger on Ball, Toronto was one of the top teams being linked to the former All-Star.
The Raptors are clearly in the market to make a big splash, and who better than the guy who already brought you a championship once before?
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Leonard turned what was supposed to be a one-year detour to Toronto in 2018 into one of the most historic seasons in NBA history. He picked up a second Finals MVP trophy while leading the Raptors to their first-ever NBA title, averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals across 24 playoff games.
The shot, the bounce, millions of fans filling up downtown Toronto. It remains one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history.
Bringing him back to the city would be pure box office and make the Raptors a legitimate Eastern Conference threat, pairing Leonard with a young, ascending Scottie Barnes.
Check out some of the scenes from the Raptors' championship parade below.
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