The Toronto Raptors are preparing to kick off contract extension negotiations this week with forward Kawhi Leonard and his newly appointed agent, according to an ESPN report released Monday.
Leonard, who is 35 years old, currently has one year and $50.3 million left on the three-year extension he originally signed with the Los Angeles Clippers back in 2024.
His previous contract was handled by agent Mitch Frankel, but the seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP has since brought on Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports to represent him in talks with Toronto, the report noted.
Under league rules, Leonard is eligible to sign a new extension of up to two years and $123.7 million as he makes his return to the Raptors, per ESPN.
The Clippers reached an agreement on June 30 to send Leonard to Toronto in exchange for veteran forward Brandon Ingram, third-year guard Gradey Dick, and a collection of draft picks. The trade was set to become official on Monday.
During his only previous season with the Raptors in 2018-19, Leonard put up 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game across 60 starts before departing for the Clippers. He earned Finals MVP honors that year after guiding Toronto to a six-game championship series win over the Golden State Warriors.
Following several seasons hampered by injuries, Leonard bounced back in a big way last season, posting a career-best 27.9 points per game along with 6.4 rebounds across 65 starts. That performance landed him seventh in MVP voting and earned him his seventh All-Star selection.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard carries career averages of 20.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals across 798 games — including stints with the San Antonio Spurs from 2011 to 2018, the Raptors, and the Clippers from 2019 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2026.
