LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Preseason Game Preview

The LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors are facing off in an NBA preseason game on Saturday that has been pretty anticipated for months now. These two teams agreed to a blockbuster trade at the end of June that sent Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a collection of draft picks.

However, the trade was put on hold by Toronto as the Raptors decided to wait for the investigation into Leonard and the Clippers to conclude before making it official. That did eventually happen, clearing the way for Leonard to rejoin the team he led to their first NBA championship in 2019, which was his second title and second Finals MVP award.

While the NBA preseason is usually uneventful, this game has been highly anticipated due to it being, on paper, the first opportunity for Leonard to face his former team. However, that will not happen, as the two-time Finals MVP is still ramping up and not yet appearing in games.

To make it even less exciting, Ingram will also not be out there, as the former Raptors forward is rehabbing a partially torn Achilles that will keep him out through the start of the regular season as well.

It is not uncommon for star players to miss preseason games, especially someone like Leonard who has an extensive injury history, but it is still somewhat of a disappointment that fans will not get to see him suit up against the Clippers.

That said, these two teams will face off early next month in Los Angeles, which will be Leonard’s return to Intuit Dome and a game that is expected to have a great atmosphere.

The Clippers were significantly punished for circumventing the NBA salary cap and paying Leonard through different team sponsors, costing the organization five first-round picks, $30 million, and suspensions to Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank.

Without that outcome, the Leonard era in Los Angeles would have simply just been a failure on the basketball court. But on top of that, it became massively destructive to the organization, which makes it reasonable to expect some boos when he returns to LA to face his former team.

For now, Leonard will take in this preseason contest from the bench, as will Ingram, who was the centerpiece of that deal if you don’t count the picks. Tip-off is at 3:30 Pacific time in Vancouver.