The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers to Toronto has been made official after a monthslong delay due to the NBA's investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention.
The teams initially agreed to the deal on June 30, but it was paused while the league investigated allegations the Clippers violated salary cap rules in signing Leonard as a free agent.
The Clippers and Raptors agreed again to the original terms of the deal earlier Monday before making it official by calling it into the league office.
Leonard waived his trade kicker worth $7.45 million to help facilitate the trade to Toronto, sources said. The trade bonus would've pushed the Raptors above the first apron cap. After the deal is completed, Toronto will be $2.3 million below the first apron with 13 guaranteed contracts, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
LA will receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders in the trade, which will now be processed after the Clippers used the past 13 days to navigate the league's discipline and work through internal logistics.
The NBA announced earlier this month a list of severe punishments for the Clippers, including the loss of five future first-round picks, a fine of $30 million and a yearlong suspension for owner Steve Ballmer for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving Leonard.
The punishments came down after nearly a yearlong investigation into the franchise that "found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules."
Leonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2019 before leaving Toronto the following offseason to sign with the Clippers.
Toronto visits the Clippers on Nov. 2 and hosts the Clippers on Jan. 1. The teams are also scheduled to meet at Vancouver in a preseason game on Oct. 10.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
