Kawhi Leonard Answers Many Questions for the Raptors. Still, Success Isn’t Guaranteed.

• Editor’s Note: For the upcoming Sports Illustrated 2026–27 basketball preview magazine that will hit newsstands in October, SI spoke to anonymous scouts around the NBA about all 30 teams.

At long last, Kawhi Leonard is back with the Raptors. The trade that sent him from the Clippers to Toronto dragged on while the NBA finalized its yearlong investigation into Leonard and his former franchise for salary cap circumvention. Los Angeles was hit the harshest punishment in league history, while Leonard got slapped with a fine and went on his merry way.