Leonard returning to Raptors in trade from Clippers

ESPN and The Athletic reported that Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, will land in Toronto in exchange for All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, backup guard Gradey Dick and first-round draft selections in 2031 and 2033.

The move could mean that Leonard, 35, will depart the Clippers before the NBA announces the findings of an independent investigation into the Clippers' dealings with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration and whether Leonard's $28 million contract to endorse the firm was a means of circumventing the salary cap.

Leonard's contract with the Clippers was due to expire after next season and the seven-time All-Star indicated he wanted to stay in Los Angeles.

But ESPN reported that the franchise, owned by former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, had made no moves to sign him to a long-term contract extension.

The deal was reported as the NBA's free agency negotiation period opened Tuesday, with the news of the day the revelation that LeBron James will depart from the Los Angeles Lakers to a team still to be determined.

It will be the second time the Raptors have made a big bet on Leonard, the first in 2018 when they acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs with one year left on his contract for DeMar DeRozan and other considerations.

Leonard, who won a title with the Spurs in 2014, led the Raptors to the only championship in franchise history, eventually departing in free agency to the Clippers.

His final season in Los Angeles was clouded by controversy after allegations surfaced that the Clippers used indirect payments, through Aspiration, to secure his signing while skirting salary cap rules.

The Clippers and Leonard have denied wrongdoing, and the NBA has yet to disclose the findings of the investigation.