Breaking news just keeps coming out of Los Angeles. On the day where the topic of conversation has been LeBron James and his decision to not return to the Lakers, the other LA team got busy in the headlines.
The Los Angeles Clippers executed a deal with the Toronto Raptors to send them Kawhi Leonard in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks, according to multiple reports.
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Leonard is coming off a career year where he averaged 27.4 points per game in his 14th NBA season. He returns to the Raptors, a familiar scene for Leonard, who won the 2019 championship and Finals MVP in Toronto.
As for LA, they lose a bonafide superstar but also bring back a player familiar with the area. Ingram was drafted by the Lakers as the No. 2 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft and now returns to southern California a decade later. Additionally, they bring in Dick, who has high basketball IQ, moves without the ball and can knock down 3-pointers at an elite level.
The cherry on top is all of the picks that Clippers accumulated: two firsts, two seconds and an added pick swap.
The Clippers lose star power, but Ingram and Dick will prove to be good fits around Darius Garland and Benedict Mathurin, who arrived midseason last year following trades. Appearing in 77 games during the 2025-26 season, Ingram averaged 21.5 points on 47.7% shooting, including 38% from 3-point distance.
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It’s rare that trades actually benefit both team and address areas of need. This is one those rare cases. USA TODAY Sports grades the blockbuster swap.
More: Clippers roster and starting lineup after Kawhi Leonard trade
USA TODAY Sports grades Raptors-Clippers trade
Toronto Raptors: A-
This move couldn’t have come at a better time. Somehow the Raptors have done it again. They built their team and developed their players to the point where they were one piece away from winning the NBA title, or at least being in contention.
I’m talking about 2019. But seven years later, it’s like Toronto ran the same exact play. They built through the draft and trades. Leonard will join a team that includes a supporting cast of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
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The team is coming off a 46-36 season that was good enough for the No. 5-seed in the Eastern Conference. It was the Raptors’ first playoff appearance since 2022, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.
Adding a player like Leonard only adds to their ceiling. I’m not buying that the team is an immediate title contender, but they will startle some teams. If Leonard, 35, remains healthy, we could see another championship run in T-Dot.
It’s definitely a “win-now” move as the Raptors take on an aging superstar to maximize their current championship window.
Los Angeles Clippers: B
Never a fan of shipping a superstar, but if you get ideal pieces in return, it’s a good move. The Clippers didn’t shop with the Raptors to leave empty handed. In return, they managed to pry Ingram, Dick and additional picks from the Raptors.
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It may not appear to move the needle considering the loss of a franchise player, but the Clippers remain interesting as a team that could scare opponents through late April once they put it all together.
Last year, LA’s season ended in the NBA Play-In Tournament, losing to the Golden State Warriors courtesy of late-game heroics from Steph Curry. They finished 42-40 after starting the season 5-21.
There are a lot of questions that need answers such as team fit and chemistry, but at their best, this team will find themselves just outside of the top-6 playoff spots and competing in the Play-in Tournament for a second consecutive season.
The Clippers’ mix of young players and veterans is a recipe for success.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Grading Clippers, Raptors Kawhi Leonard swap: Which team won the trade?
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