The Toronto Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard two separate times in eight years, but the trade packages were dramatically different.
Leonard is set to return to the Raptors seven years after he helped bring a championship to the city and left to play in his hometown.
Of course, given his contract with the LA Clippers, the Toronto Raptors had to give up a haul to bring the Klaw back to Jurassic Park.
But even with his advanced age and injury issues, the Raptors had to give up a bigger haul than they did the first time around.
What Toronto Raptors gave up for Kawhi Leonard in both 2018 and 2026
In 2018, a disgruntled Kawhi Leonard tried to force a trade out of the San Antonio Spurs to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
Given Gregg Popovich and the Spurs’ desire to not help the Lakers, they traded him to the Toronto Raptors instead, for a very cheap package:
Toronto Raptors received: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green.
San Antonio Spurs received: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, 2019 First Round Pick (#29, Keldon Johnson)
Compare this package to the one the Raptors sent to the LA Clippers to reacquire Leonard; they certainly paid a lower fee:
Toronto Raptors received: Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers received: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2031 First Round Pick (Unprotected), 2033 First Round Pick (Unprotected), 2030 Second Round Pick, 2033 Second Round Pick, 2027 First Round Pick Swap.
Even though Leonard just turned 35 years old two days ago, the Raptors paid a bigger package to land him compared to what they gave up in 2018, when he was in his prime at just 27 years old.
It feels like the Raptors were forced to pay a premium to land Kawhi Leonard the second time around compared to the first. And the fact of the matter is they did, but there are a few reasons for it.
Why did the Toronto Raptors give up more for Kawhi Leonard in 2026 compared to 2018
For starters, Leonard may have been a better player in 2018, but he was a disgruntled player who demanded a trade away from the San Antonio Spurs.
And given that the Raptors weren’t his preferred destination, they had leverage over the Spurs in negotiations.
Lastly, Leonard was set to enter the final year of his contract with the Spurs, which made trading for him a risky proposition, thus the low price for him.
This time around, things are a little different. Leonard is older and struggles with injuries more frequently, but is still a proven two-time NBA champion and a superstar in the NBA.
So for the Clippers to give him up, they needed to be adequately compensated. Leonard’s $50 million salary also meant that the Raptors had to match salary to avoid issues with the new salary cap rules.
The draft capital comes down to one factor – last time around, Leonard only wanted the Lakers, so the Raptors didn’t have to give up much.
This time around, Leonard only wanted the Raptors, which allowed the Clippers’ front office to get the most out of the deal.
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