Leonard takes $11M less to give Raptors cap flexibility

Waived $7.45M kicker to complete Clippers move

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 221 min read

TOR

Toronto RaptorsNBA

Leonard took $11 million less than his maximum extension number — on top of waiving a $7.45 million kicker to accommodat

What happened: Toronto agreed with Leonard on a two-year, $115 million extension. He waived a $7.45 million trade kicker to finalize the move from the Clippers. The sides structured the discount to preserve room against rising salary books.

Why it matters: The savings give Toronto maneuverability to retain its young core around Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett entering 2026-27. Locking in a two-time Finals MVP through the reunion signals a long-term build rather than a rental.

By the numbers: Extension: 2 years, $115M; Below max extension number: $11M; Trade kicker waived: $7.45M

What to watch: Watch how Toronto uses the created flexibility before camp and whether additional extensions follow.

Sources

@ShamsCharania Sep 22, 3:20 PM ET

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Leonard takes $11M less to give Raptors cap flexibility

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