Kawhi Leonard Signs Two-Year, $115 Million Contract Extension with Raptors

Kawhi Leonard has signed a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Toronto Raptors, which includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Leonard's agent, Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports, confirmed the agreement to ESPN. This marks Leonard's return to the Raptors after previously playing for the team during the 2018-19 season, when he helped lead the franchise to its first NBA championship. The contract extension follows recent penalties imposed on the Los Angeles Clippers, who were stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million for violating salary cap rules. Leonard was also fined $700,000 for his involvement in the Clippers' situation before being traded to the Raptors. In a recent interview, Leonard expressed his reasons for returning to Toronto, stating, "I’m not really championship chasing, trying to find the best team I could win [with]. I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here, and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back." Leonard will join Scottie Barnes in the Raptors' frontcourt as the team aims for a deep playoff run after securing a top-five seed in the Eastern Conference last season.