LeBron James' 76ers Move Has Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors Subplot

The Toronto Raptors returned to the postseason in 2025-26 for the first time since 2022, going 46-36 to finish third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game first-round series.

That finish left the front office in pursuit of a big splash this offseason. On June 30, Toronto agreed in principle to a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that would return Kawhi Leonard to the city where he won a championship, a package built around Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft picks.

Leonard’s return is now on hold, despite the two teams agreeing to terms. The two teams have paused the deal while the NBA investigates whether the Clippers funneled money to the 35-year-old forward through his endorsement arrangement with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration in order to circumvent the salary cap.

With the trade frozen, Leonard is still under contract with the Clippers, and Ingram and Dick remain on Toronto’s roster. However, the expectation continues to be that this deal will get done.

The Eastern Conference around the Raptors has kept moving. It was announced on Friday, through LeBron James’ own posts on X, that the 41-year-old forward had agreed to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season.

James’ agent, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul, confirmed the terms (via ESPN’s Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin), a two-year agreement worth roughly $8 million with a player option that pays James the veteran minimum in 2026-27 and allows him to hit free agency again after one season. That figure is the smallest of his career, down from close to $53 million with the Lakers a year ago.

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote.

The move opens James’ 24th NBA season and gives him a fourth franchise in a career that also includes four championships, four Finals MVPs and the all-time scoring record at 43,440 regular-season points. James chose Philadelphia, which already features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe — the projected starters alongside him.

For Toronto, James’ landing spot carries a subplot. He spent years as an unbeatable opponent of the Raptors’ best teams, repeatedly ending their playoff runs early. Leonard was the exception in 2019, winning Finals MVP and the title in Toronto in the same postseason he eliminated Philadelphia, while James was of course in LA.

Should the trade clear, Leonard would give the Raptors a two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP who averaged 27.9 points per game across 65 games for the Clippers last season, slotting beside Scottie Barnes and a talented supporting cast.

Philadelphia and Toronto share the Atlantic Division, which sets up four meetings a season. The 76ers went 45-37 in 2025-26 and reached the conference semifinals before a sweep by the New York Knicks.

For now, Toronto waits on a Leonard resolution.

“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the team said in a statement earlier this month.

Commissioner Adam Silver has said the investigation will hopefully be concluded this summer, which isn’t exactly a clear timeline.