Bobby Webster Explains Raptors' Quick Kawhi Leonard Extension

The Toronto Raptors did not wait long to lock up forward Kawhi Leonard, and on Thursday morning, general manager Bobby Webster explained why.

The trade that brought Leonard back to Toronto was agreed to in late June, but it did not become official until Sept. 14 because of the NBA's investigation into the Clippers.

About a week later, the two sides agreed on a two-year extension that could be worth $115 million, and Leonard signed it on Wednesday.

"I think the biggest thing when we first agreed to the trade, in speaking to Kawhi and his rep, is he didn't want this to be a short-term thing. He wanted to stay here for a while. That's what people hopefully took away from the extension. We want to have a window here," Webster told reporters at his press conference Thursday morning.

The contract backs him up, too, since CBS Sports noted that because Leonard was just traded, his first-year raise was capped at 20%, and if he had waited six months to extend, he would have been eligible for a deal closer to $128 million.

He took a little less to get it done now, and in return, the second year of the deal in 2028-29 is at his option, according to The Associated Press.

He will make just over $50 million this season, the last year of his current contract.

People can argue about whether Toronto paid too much, but Leonard left money on the table to get this done, and that is exactly what a team trying to win now wants to see from its star.

Webster also talked about Leonard's health, and he pointed out that Leonard is coming off a healthy season.

Leonard played 65 games for the Clippers last year and averaged 27.9 points, which the AP called the highest-scoring season of his career.

He also said forward Scottie Barnes continues to mature and that he sees a natural basketball chemistry between Barnes and Leonard, who already look like one of the more talked-about duos in the league.

When asked whether the extension would hurt Toronto's chances of keeping forward RJ Barrett, who is set to be a free agent after this season, Webster said ownership has been very supportive.

Barrett has already asked fans for their support as this group heads into camp.

The Raptors made the playoffs last season and pushed Cleveland to seven games in the first round, so they are building on something real.

Leonard is 35, and the player option means he could become a free agent in 2028, so the next two seasons are the real window Webster is talking about.

Webster said last year was about whether Toronto could compete every night, and this year the question is whether the team can win every night.

Media day is Monday, and camp opens the next day in Quebec City before the preseason starts on Oct. 3 against Miami.

The Raptors open the regular season on Oct. 21 against Chicago, and with Leonard signed through at least next season, anything short of a deep playoff run will feel like a letdown.