Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard back to Raptors in franchise-shifting deal

All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard is on the move.

>The Los Angeles Clippers traded the 14-year veteran to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks, according to multiplereports.

>Leonard, 35, had expressed a desire to stay with the Clippers, with whom he first signed as a free agent before the 2019-20 NBA season. However, the Clippers had been reluctant to make a long-term commitment to the seven-time All-Star.

>Leonard has one season left on his contract, which is scheduled to pay him $50.3 million.

>The trade immediately makes him eligible to sign up to a two-year, $123.7 million extension with his new team, according to ESPN.

>Leonard averaged a career-high 27.4 points per game last season and finished seventh in the NBA MVP voting. However, the Clippers finished with a 42-40 record and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament.

Kawhi Leonard's history with RaptorsLeonard pleyed just one season in Toronto, but it was a memorable one.

>After spending the first seven seasons of his pro career and winning a championship in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard was traded to the Raptors in 2018. He led the team on a historic run to the franchise's first-ever NBA title, defeating the Golden State Warriors in six games.

>Leonard was named the NBA Finals MVP for the second time in his career, but left at the end of the season to sign with the Clippers.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard back to Raptors in franchise-shifting deal