Reading between the lines: This seems like the league hedging. In 18-19, the Raptors were coming off being a 1-seed and added Kawhi. League scheduled 15 national TV games. Last year, Raptors got 2 national TV games. They were probably due for a small uptick after Scottie's playoff run

Josh Lewenberg@jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2mo ago

There are obvious geographical/financial reasons why the Raptors don’t tend to draw many US national TV games, but again, they got 15 of them the last time Kawhi played for Toronto. Only 7 this season is… interesting 👀 (tho they could be added later). The Clippers have more (8)

I should say, the other rumoured Lebron destinations make less sense to me I wrote in my previous post how returning to CLE would have been fraught with potential issues MIA fit is awkward. More on this when I do a season preview but MIA in the play-in, or even the lottery - wouldn't surprise me

I'm originally from Cleveland, and am very disappointed in this decision. I abandoned Cleveland sports decades ago, with the exception of the Lebron Cavs. It would have been fun to root for them again

Shams Charania Tweets@shamsbot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

BREAKING: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group and Klutch CEO and Game Over show host Rich Paul tells ESPN.

Kawhi Investigation complete? I saw references to Mike Vorkunov reporting that the investigation is complete I had trouble confirming this, but here it is: He spoke about it on The Rich Eisen Show The segment starts at the 9:38 mark @mikevorkunov.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMBL...

The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov Talks LeBron Waiting Game & More | Full Interview | The Rich Eisen Show

YouTube video by The Rich Eisen Show

youtube.com

First Tempo game for the Palaeontologist's Hammer! (....and check out the score)

A few reasons why the disaster scenario (voiding Kawhi’s contract) is considered highly unlikely: 1) His current contract, signed in 2024, isn’t under investigation (as far as we know). The one in question, signed in 2021, expired more than a year ago.

Josh Lewenberg@jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2mo ago

For what it’s worth, the Raptors continue to talk and act like a team that is unworried. Sense is the only thing that would jeopardize the trade is the unlikely scenario where Kawhi’s contract is voided. Any other possible penalty, including suspension, is something they could work around.

Regarding the conclusion of the Clippers/Kawhi investigation, I was interested in making an educated guess on what kind of suspension Kawhi could be assessed. To that end, a look at precedent: Here are the longest player suspensions in NBA history...

Surely this means the Raptors paused the deal. Equally surely, the Clippers are okay with framing it this way, as it is understandable I am curious what kind of pressure the league will face as this drags on... I can easily imagine the other 28 owners being just fine with LAC+TOR in limbo, but...

Justin Russo@flybyknite.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Adam Silver said at his press conference tonight that the “league did not pause the [Kawhi Leonard] trade,” but rather that the “parties to the trade (Clippers and Raptors) made a decision not to go forward given that the investigation remained open.”

Excellent reporting within. Nice work Doug!

Doug Smith@smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The sense of Leonard to the Raptors is when rather than if but until it's done, it's not done. Summer League tidbits are here www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Re: Raptor Centre prospects at Summer league Jamarion Sharp shows impressive mobility and has great length. Great shot blocking and plays above the rim. Unfortunately I do not believe his strength will hold up at the NBA level

I felt GTJ was poorly used throughout his Bucks tenure. He had a frigid start from three (8-40) in his first month as a Buck, and they never trusted him with starter's minutes the rest of the way despite his 44% shooting afterwards that season.

John Hollinger@johnhollinger.bsky.social · 3mo ago

That Gary Trent deal cannot be in American dollars. Has to rubles or rupiah or something.

Related: I thought it was notable that BI and Gradey were at the LAC summer league game....after the press releases; A signal that everyone expects the trade to execute

The Palaeontologist's Hammer@palaeohammer.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Thinking about the Kawhi trade pause: I'm not an insider, but here's my best guess at reading between the lines I would like to assume that smart people are running the various entities at play here (LAC, TOR, NBA). Based on that, I would rule out the nuclear endpoint of voiding Kawhi's contract

Thinking about the Kawhi trade pause: I'm not an insider, but here's my best guess at reading between the lines I would like to assume that smart people are running the various entities at play here (LAC, TOR, NBA). Based on that, I would rule out the nuclear endpoint of voiding Kawhi's contract

Wrote about this yesterday, but not in this depth... @raptorsrepublic.bsky.social raptorsrepublic.com/2026/07/02/t...

The Toronto Raptors would be the perfect home for LeBron James - Raptors Republic

LeBron James and the Raptors might sound far-fetched, but the fit is worth talking about.

raptorsrepublic.com

The Palaeontologist's Hammer@palaeohammer.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Maybe this is preposterous but I want to speak it into existence: The 2026-2027 Toronto Raptors are as good as fit as just about any team Lebron James could hope for

​Thinking about cap management issues after reading Blake's AMAZING piece several times...Highly recommended, and important for understanding how this will affect the Raptors' ability to fill out their roster Four Jakob trade ideas for the Raptors to add to the rotation and avoid the hard cap:

Blake Murphy@blakemurphy.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Explainer on the Raptors cap and roster situation after the Kawhi Leonard trade: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/...

The Raptors are taking a big risk with the Kawhi trade. It's worth it. My full analysis including thoughts on risk, fit, cap minutiae, health and Scottie Barnes. Free to read

The Kawhi Leonard trade is a big risk for the Raptors. It’s worth it (Gift Article)

The Raptors' second Kawhi Leonard trade is much costlier than their first, but it comes with similar promise.

nytimes.com

Thinking about the Jaylen Brown trade and the Raptors 'choice' between them If one considers my tinfoil hat theories listed here, it is altogether possible that the Raptors were only roped in to whitewash the Aspiration fallout

The Palaeontologist's Hammer@palaeohammer.bsky.social · 3mo ago

More on Kawhi: This is wild speculation based on no inside information... I have to think that the Aspiration investigation is triggering all of this.

Maybe this is preposterous but I want to speak it into existence: The 2026-2027 Toronto Raptors are as good as fit as just about any team Lebron James could hope for

Not a hot take, but worth noting: The Raptors are Scottie Barnes' team.

Pascal, two firsts, two seconds and a pick swap for Kawhi, Ja'Kobe Walter and three months of me insisting Ochai Agbaji was awesome.

Keerthika Uthayakumar@keerthikau.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Technically, Kawhi Leonard is now a part of the Pascal Siakam trade tree.

Kawhi-to-the-Raptors Quick reactions Above all else, SUPER EXCITED!!!! This is a joyous moment, soak it in Raptors fans!

youtu.be/fVoK_-cTsks?...

"The King in the North!" [HD] [CC]

YouTube video by Gameofthronesquotes

youtu.be

​Re: Kawhi Contrary reports out there This morning, Brian Windhorst reported that the players in the trade have been settled, and that the teams are just ironing out draft compensation

Now being installed in the home locker room at the Chase Center The 2026-27 Geriatric State Warriors

Been wondering what (if anything) the team has in store for the Jakob contract. Swapping him for someone else's bad contract might be a solution One problem: By using Gradey's salary to get Kawhi, the options become more limited

The fact that the Kawhi trade hasn't been finalized yet gives me some concern, but ultimately I feel it will happen. My conspiracy theories aside, the Clippers have already pivoted towards the future. Keeping Kawhi is inconsistent with that pivot

More on Kawhi: This is wild speculation based on no inside information... I have to think that the Aspiration investigation is triggering all of this.

Some Kawhi-to-the-Raptors thoughts, in no particular order Reports indicate that players have been agreed to, with a general construction of BI+Gradey for Kawhi. However, this is not sufficiently nerdy for my tastes

Heh, literally it's like a flash-mob-Kawhi-choir has burst into song! This trade construction is fine. Still worried about the accompanying extension. If it's 3/180, very hard pass! Ideally? Say, 2/90 + Jakob-for-expiring, followed later by team-friendly extensions for RJ (3/70?) and Shead (3/30?)

Josh Lewenberg@jlewenberg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The Raptors' interest in Kawhi was described to me as "real but conditional." Contingent on price, obviously. Hard to see them paying more than last time, so think similar framework: secondary star (Ingram), former lottery pick (Dick), 1st-rounder in the following year's draft.

Interesting. Grange (and Josh Lewenberg) first responded to these rumors by noting that Kawhi has used the Raptors for leverage in the past. @jlewenberg.bsky.social This new reporting indicates a more serious level of talks.

Michael Grange@michaelgrangenba.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Bobby Webster helped bring Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors once and now - per sources - the Raptors have discussed bringing the two-time Finals MVP back again, potentially in a deal centered on all-star Brandon Ingram: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/...