Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: To be re-evaluated in one week
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Leonard has completed treatment to reduce swelling in his left knee and he will be re-evaluated in one week, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Leonard will now begin the next phase of his rehab, and while he'll be re-evaluated by Nov. 10, it's still unlikely we'll see him back on the floor until the end of November. Ja'Kobe Walter should continue to start while Leonard is sidelined, and it'll be Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett running the show on offense.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: To miss 3-4 weeks
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Leonard (knee) is expected to be sidelined for at least three to four weeks, Chris Haynes of NBA TV reports.
The extended absence represents a significant setback for Leonard, who will be unavailable for the foreseeable future. His absence should create additional offensive opportunities for Toronto's remaining rotation players, with guys like RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Allen Graves seeing more usage. Leonard's recovery timeline will be worth monitoring, as the reported window represents a minimum absence rather than a firm return date.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Expected to miss multiple weeks
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Leonard (knee) is expected to miss multiple weeks due to swelling in his left knee, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
An MRI revealed no structural damage, but the Raptors will take a cautious approach with Leonard's recovery following interruptions to his offseason preparation. The veteran forward was a late scratch for Sunday's loss to Minnesota and now faces an extended absence just two games into the 2026-27 campaign. Allen Graves, who started in Leonard's place Sunday, figures to benefit from additional playing time, while RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes could absorb more offensive responsibility. An update on his progress can be expected in one week when the Raptors re-evaluate him.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Not playing Sunday
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Leonard is out for Sunday's game against the Timberwolves due to left knee swelling, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Leonard wasn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's game, and this late scratch is a huge blow for Toronto since Leonard is a key piece on both ends of the court for the Raptors. Leonard is averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game in his first two appearances. With the star forward out, Allen Graves is expected to take his place in the starting lineup.
Leonard ended Friday's 112-102 victory over the Wizards with 16 points (7-19 FG, 2-8 3Pt), eight rebounds, one assist and three steals in 28 minutes.
Leonard made his impact felt defensively and finished one rebound shy from logging his first double-double of the season. However, his struggles from the floor continued Friday, and he saw his streak of 20-plus point games snapped at 58. Leonard has gone 12-for-36 (33.3 percent) from the field through the first two games of the regular season, but he's still wreaking havoc on the defensive side of the floor while building up on his conditioning. Leonard and Scottie Barnes will have their defensive prowess put to the test Sunday against Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and the Timberwolves.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Ends with four steals Wednesday
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Leonard finished with 23 points (5-17 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 11-11 FT), six rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block over 24 minutes in Wednesday's 135-92 win over the Bulls.
Leonard tied Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley for the game high in points. However, what set the 35-year-old apart from the rest were his contributions on the defensive side of the ball. Leonard averaged a career-best 27.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals over 32.1 minutes per game in 65 regular-season appearances with the Clippers in 2025-26. The 2011 No. 15 overall pick is certainly still considered an All-Star-caliber player, but he needs to stay healthy, which has been an issue throughout his career.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Expected to play Wednesday
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Leonard (rest) is expected to play in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Bulls.
Leonard sat out Friday's preseason finale but figures to play when the Raptors open the regular season at home against Chicago. The star forward appeared in two games this preseason, averaging 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 19.6 minutes per contest.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Sitting out Friday
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Leonard will be rested Friday against the Pistons for the preseason finale, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Leonard looked sharp in his lone preseason appearance with 21 points in 17 minutes. His status ahead of Opening Night is not in doubt.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Scores 21 in preseason debut
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Leonard recorded 21 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 5-7 FT), five rebounds and two steals across 17 minutes in Tuesday's 148-98 preseason win over the Knicks.
Leonard made an immediate impact in his preseason debut, leading Toronto in scoring despite playing just 17 minutes. The veteran forward was particularly effective from beyond the arc, knocking down four three-pointers while adding two steals. His efficient performance was an encouraging sign as he prepares for the regular season.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Set to debut Tuesday
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Leonard (not injury related) will make his preseason debut Tuesday against the Knicks, Esfandiar Baraheni of The Athletic reports.
After missing the first two preseason contests, Leonard has the green light to return. The Raptors have brought him along slowly, and it's likely he plays a limited role in his first game with the team.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Ruled out for Saturday
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Leonard (not injury related) won't suit up for Saturday's exhibition against the Clippers, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Leonard will miss a second straight preseason game while ramping up his workload following the offseason, but he's not dealing with an injury. His next chance to play in the preseason will come Tuesday against the Knicks.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Goes through practice
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Leonard (not injury related) went through a full practice Monday, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
This was Leonard's first full practice since training camp opened. He's expected to be held out of his second straight preseason contest Saturday, but it seems safe to say he will be a full go by Opening Night.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Won't play in preseason opener
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Leonard (not injury related) won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against Miami and is unlikely to suit up for next Saturday's preseason game against the Clippers, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
Leonard is expected to miss both of Toronto's first two preseason games as part of his ramp-up plan. He'll have three more chances to suit up before the regular season if he's held out of next Saturday's contest.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Easing into camp
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Leonard has yet to participate in contact drills and is unlikely to play in Toronto's preseason opener Saturday against Miami, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
The team has been content with a phased ramp up for Leonard to start training camp, and while coach Darko Rajakovic stated Thursday that the team will consider playing the star forward Saturday, it seems more likely that he'll sit out. Toronto has also indicated that a load management plan has been developed for Leonard ahead of the 2026-27 campaign to keep him healthy over the course of the season, which is something he hasn't been able to accomplish in recent years.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Load management plan in place
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic hinted Monday the Raptors will have a management plan for Leonard in 2026-27, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.
Staying on the court has long been a major concern for Leonard, who didn't play in 2021-22 and hasn't made 70 regular-season appearances since 2016-17 with the Spurs. The focus for Toronto will be to keep the star forward healthy throughout the course of the year, which means Leonard could face sporadic absences. Although he carries plenty of risk in fantasy drafts for that caveat, Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game over 65 regular-season appearances for the Clippers last year.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Inking two-year extension
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Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors on Tuesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
The deal also has a player option for the 2028-29 season. After spending most of this past offseason in a holding pattern, Leonard is settling back in with Toronto for his second stint with the team following a six-year tenure with the Clippers that was tumultuous at times. The star forward is coming off one of the best campaigns of his illustrious career in 2025-26 with Los Angeles, during which he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over 65 regular-season appearances.
Leonard and the Raptors have held advanced discussions and are nearing an agreement on a contract extension, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports.
Leonard is eligible to sign for up to two years and $126 million. An extension would solidify Leonard's long-term future in Toronto and remove any uncertainty surrounding his contract situation heading into the 2026-27 campaign. After his trade was recently completed, his fantasy outlook is much more straightforward heading into training camp.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Trade finally completed
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The Clippers and Raptors both agreed Monday to complete the trade sending Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Over two months after the deal was initially agreed upon, it will finally be processed following the NBA's investigation of salary-cap circumvention involving Leonard and the Clippers. The star forward is coming off one of the best seasons of his storied career in 2025-26 with Los Angeles, having averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over 65 regular-season appearances.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Fined, avoids suspension
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Leonard has been fined $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits due to his involvement in the Clippers' salary cap circumvention, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
The Clippers were punished harshly by the NBA, including a $30 million fine for Steve Ballmer and the loss of five first-round picks. However, it appears Leonard will be able to suit up for the Raptors on Opening Night after only receiving a monetary punishment. The trade that sent Leonard to Toronto should be finalized soon now that the NBA has closed its investigation. Leonard has one year left on his deal, valued at $50.3 million, but it's likely there will be mutual interest in an extension.
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Raptors' Kawhi Leonard: Trade to Toronto can proceed, reportedly
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The NBA has found no evidence showing Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used side endorsements to illegally pay Leonard, per Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. However, NBA spokesman Mike Bass refuted ESPN's article, citing "numerous and significant inaccuracies."
Reportedly, the league's investigation didn't find that Ballmer or the franchise funneled money through team sponsors to circumvent the salary cap, which should help clear a major hurdle in finalizing Leonard's pending trade to the Raptors. The expectation is that the deal will be made official ahead of training camp in the fall, but fantasy managers should proceed with caution until the NBA's investigation concludes.
