Clippers trade Leonard to Raptors; five first-round picks and $30 million fine stand
The Los Angeles Clippers have completed a trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, a deal held up during the NBA's investigation into salary-cap circumvention in his signing.
The league found "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations," suspending governor Steve Ballmer, stripping five first-round draft picks and fining the franchise $30 million. The Clippers have accepted the ruling in full; Leonard said he was not aware of any circumvention from his camp.
What the Clippers got for the money swung hard over his last two seasons there. His WAGE Score was 5 in 2024-25 and 76 in 2025-26, Smart Money, per WAGE.
Last season he was paid like the 14th player in the league and produced like the 10th, carrying 28% of the Clippers' production.
That return now sits on the Clippers' books beside the forfeited picks and the fine. The production goes to Toronto, where the salary asks him to keep playing like a top-ten player.