Exciting times are ahead in Toronto. Global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors and high-profile celebrity fan, Drake, may well have had his ear to the ground with regard to team rumors and a sensational return of Kawhi Leonard.
With NBA free agency mere hours away and trade season well and truly up and running, Raptors fans and NBA fans had their interests piqued by a cryptic social media post from the iconic rapper and Raptors fan. Turns out, Drake called it right.
Drake Posts Social Media Message About At Kawhi Leonard’s Return To Raptors
On Drake’s Instagram stories, the team’s global ambassador posted a message featuring a picture of him and Leonard together, along with many eyeball emojis, with the caption:
“So is it KawhiYZ SZN again?” This fuelled intense speculation about a possible return of the former Raptors legend, Leonard, in a trade from the L.A. Clippers. It turns out, he was right.
This follows breaking news from NBA insider Shams Charania only minutes ago that the Raptors and Clippers are nearing a sensational trade deal for the 2019 Finals MVP Leonard.
According to Charania, the Clippers are nearing a deal to send Leonard to the Raptors in exchange for Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, 2 first-round picks, a pick swap, and 2 second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. A return to Canada for the Raptors champion and two-time Finals MVP. pic.twitter.com/VovqGw5qS6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
According to previous speculation, the only place Leonard would agree to sign a long-term extension outside of Los Angeles was Toronto, which had begun serious trade talks, given the leverage it had given Raptors Executive Masai Ujiri.
This will mean a sensational return to Canada for Leonard, where he won a championship and Finals MVP in 2019 in their famous win over the Golden State Warriors, a win that captured the hearts of Toronto and the entire country.
Despite the obvious risks posed by his chronic knee issues and age, Leonard remains an elite-level two-way player and scorer, as he showed last year, averaging 27.9 points per game on 50.5% shooting over 65 games in a difficult season for the Clippers, which also saw them trade James Harden.
If Leonard can stay on the court, the Raptors look like an immense outfit alongside Scottie Barnes and microwave scorer Immanuel Quickley. They had a resurgent year last year, winning 46 games and finishing as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Now, with Leonard partnering with Barnes, this should push them even further into contention. Judging by Drake’s Instagram post, he will be delighted to have his friend back on his beloved team.
