Photo: YouTube

The Toronto Raptors are not waiting for the NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and his contractual situation to reach a final resolution before potentially completing a trade for the former Finals MVP. The Raptors instead need assurances that Leonard will not face the maximum possible penalty, including the voiding of his contract, according to Josh Lewenberg.

“Raptors aren’t waiting on a final resolution to the seemingly endless investigation/legal process,” Lewenberg wrote Monday. “They just need to be certain that Kawhi isn’t getting hit with a max penalty (void contract) to sign off on the trade.”

Those assurances could arrive soon, which would allow Toronto to proceed without waiting for the entire investigation and legal process to conclude. The distinction is important because the Raptors’ reported willingness to complete the trade depends on the severity of any eventual league action against Leonard and the Clippers.

Leonard has been at the center of an NBA investigation involving the circumstances surrounding his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. The league’s eventual findings could have significant implications for any team acquiring him, making the contractual status of the 35-year-old forward a central issue in Toronto’s decision-making.

The Raptors have agreed to a trade that would send Leonard back to Toronto, where he played during the 2018-19 championship season. Any deal would represent a major change for a team that finished 46-36 last season and reached the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 5 seed.

Toronto’s current roster is led by Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Barnes averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 80 games last season while earning All-Star and All-Defensive Second Team honors, while Ingram averaged 21.5 points on 47.7% shooting.

The Raptors also have significant frontcourt depth with Jakob Poeltl and 2025 first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles. Toronto selected Allen Graves at No. 19 and Jaden Bradley at No. 50 in the 2026 NBA Draft and added Kyle Anderson on a one-year, $3.9 million contract in free agency.