The Toronto Raptors are moving closer to finalizing a trade that would return Kawhi Leonard to the team that won the 2019 NBA championship with him as its centerpiece.
Recent reporting on the league’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers found no evidence that owner Steve Ballmer used sponsors to funnel extra money to Leonard in violation of salary-cap rules.
Although the probe has not officially closed, both Toronto and Los Angeles are treating the deal as if it will eventually be ratified, which would add the two-time Finals MVP to a roster already featuring several promising young players.
Adel Ahmad of Heavy.com notes that acquiring Leonard would immediately elevate the Raptors into serious Eastern Conference contention and open the door for an even more ambitious follow-up move.
Ahmad sketched a four-team scenario in which Toronto would then targer Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, a five-time All-Star who averaged 26 points and six assists last season.
In the proposed swap, the Raptors would receive Booker, Noah Clowney, and a pair of future second-round picks. Phoenix would get Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter, and a first-round selection. The Detroit Pistons would add Jakob Poeltl plus additional seconds, while the Brooklyn Nets would land Ron Holland II, Taurean Prince, and more draft capital.
Each club could find something it needs in the exchange. The Nets would add a 21-year-old wing with starter upside. The Pistons would gain a veteran center who can stabilize their frontcourt if Jalen Duren’s development remains uneven.
Phoenix would finally move Booker to a proven contender after more than a decade of falling short of a title, while receiving a ready-made replacement in Quickley and a high-upside prospect in Walter.
Toronto, meanwhile, would pair two proven scorers with Scottie Barnes and the rest of its young core.
The resulting roster would give the Raptors a starting group of Booker, RJ Barrett, Leonard, Barnes, and either Collin Murray-Boyles or Clowney.
That combination of backcourt scoring, wing defense, and frontcourt versatility would rank among the East’s strongest, potentially making Toronto a favorite to reach the Finals for the first time since 2019.
The idea remains hypothetical, yet it illustrates how quickly the franchise’s outlook could change if Leonard’s return is completed and management chooses to keep adding talent.
