Kawhi Leonard drawing interest from Mavericks and Raptors

Kawhi Leonard reportedly drew interest from the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors as the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in trade discussions. Leonard, 35, was considered one of the biggest prizes on the NBA trade market as the free agency period began on June 30, 2026, with official deals permitted after the league's moratorium on activity ended on July 6. Leonard was entering the final year of a three-year extension he signed with the Clippers in January 2024, set to earn $50.3 million for the season.

The Clippers, operating over the salary cap, viewed moving Leonard’s substantial salary as critical. Coming off a season where he averaged a career-high 27.9 points, he attracted interest from multiple teams aiming to bolster their playoff contention or championship aspirations. Any possible trade, however, may depend on Leonard's willingness to agree to a new contract extension.

The Mavericks' interest was highlighted by The Athletic, indicating that Dallas's trade proposal would include Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and draft picks. This move could reunite Leonard with Masai Ujiri, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations, who previously acquired Leonard in 2018 when he worked with the Raptors. That season, Toronto won the NBA championship and Leonard earned the NBA Finals MVP award.

There was also speculation about Leonard potentially returning to Toronto, where he indicated he would be open to signing an extension, as reported by Jake Fischer. Nevertheless, negotiations between the Raptors and Clippers could depend on the players the Raptors proposed in the deal. The Raptors appeared to prefer including Brandon Ingram over RJ Barrett. Ingram, 28, led the Raptors in scoring last season with 21.2 points per game, while Barrett averaged 19.3 points per game. Ingram is set to earn $40 million next season and has a $42 million player option for 2027-28, while Barrett's salary stands at $29.6 million for the 2026-27 season.

Notably, Leonard reportedly expressed disinterest in joining the Detroit Pistons, who finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season but were eliminated in the playoffs.

In addition to the Mavericks and Raptors, the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets have been mentioned in less substantiated rumors surrounding Leonard's future.