(Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz / Getty Images, Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo, Jae C. Hong / AP Photo, Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Clippers will have their hands full when the season opens trying to contend in the always tough Western Conference after being slapped with the harshest penalties in league history for violating salary cap circumvention rules.
With Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Ivica Zubac gone from last season’s team, they’ll focus on developing a new core of stars, including rookie Keaton Wagler, when they open play Wednesday by hosing the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome.
Another positive for the team: Tyronn Lue is a proven asset as coach and he’ll be tasked with developing and blending in the younger players. Wagler spent the summer building up his body and has potential to be a strong defender.
The league’s year-long investigation is over and the Clippers have a clear path, albeit rocky, to move on and again become competitive in the West. They finished ninth in the conference last season and were eliminated by the Warriors in a play-in game.
Now fully recovered from a foot injury, two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland will be counted on to provide floor leadership. Also returning are former All-Star guard Bradley Beal, guard Kris Dunn, forward Derrick Jones Jr. and center Brook Lopez.
“I think we can surprise a lot of people,” Garland said.
Garland is fully recovered from toe and foot ligament injuries. In 19 games last season, he averaged 19.9 points with 6.4 assists. With a full offseason and training camp, Garland is expected to be one of the team’s top players.
Other young players to watch are guard Kobe Sanders, who had a productive rookie season when averaging 7.3 points and nearly 20 minutes a game as part of the rotation, and center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who had his rookie season end early because of a foot injury but he showed promise over 41 games.
Forward Brandon Ingram, driving against Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. last season, is now a teammate after the Kawhi Leonard trade was completed following the salary cap circumvention investigation. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Additions include All-Star forward Brandon Ingram and guard Gradey Dick, who were part of the Leonard trade to Toronto, wing Max Strus, guard Jalen Pickett, forward Baba Miller, forward Isaiah Jackson and forward Nick Martinelli.
“I know [there are] little to no expectations for us this year,” said Ingram, who will miss the start of the season while recovering from May surgery for a partially torn Achilles. “We have enough in the building to compete. This is what we love to do. So, we’ll go out and compete every single night, learn, go on to the next game and get better and better.”
Strus also will be out for a while after injuring his right foot during training camp.
Departed from the team are forward John Collins, guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, forward Nicolas Batum and wing Bennedict Mathurin.
Also noteworthy: owner Steve Ballmer won’t be sitting courtside after being banned by the NBA for a year as part of the team’s steep punishment for circumventing salary-cap rules. Top basketball executive Lawrence Frank has been banned for six months. The penalties included the loss of five first-round draft picks.
“I give our players a lot of credit … the leadership is great [and] the morale is great, even in these tough situations,” Lue said at the start of training camp. “That’s good to see, when you have your players coming in every day, giving everything they have; a lot of teams don’t have that.”
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Onsi Saleh of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the Atlanta Hawks New Draft Picks Press Conference and Portraits on June 25, 2026 at Atlanta Hawks Practice Facility in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Onsi Saleh has consistently emphasized financial flexibility, but his latest comments offer an important clarification: Atlanta has the authority to enter the luxury tax when the right opportunity comes.
During an appearance on SiriusXM, the Hawks’ president of basketball operations discussed navigating the NBA’s apron restrictions and making responsible roster decisions.
“Even with us, we could go in the tax and we have full authority on the tax,” Saleh said.
That statement matters because maintaining flexibility can sometimes leave fans wondering whether an organization is willing to spend. Saleh’s explanation suggests Atlanta’s approach centers on choosing the right investment and understanding the consequences that follow.
The luxury tax and the aprons are separate thresholds. Paying the tax carries a financial cost, while crossing the apron levels brings additional roster-building restrictions. At the second apron, teams lose tools such as the midlevel exception and the ability to combine outgoing player salaries to acquire a more expensive player. Those limitations can make improving an already expensive roster considerably harder.
For Atlanta, keeping options available can create opportunities when other teams need to reduce spending. Saleh discussed that advantage, and the Hawks’ offseason already provides an example of how it can work.
"Even with us, we could go in the tax and we have full authority on the tax."@ATLHawks president Onsi Saleh talks to @BGeltzNBA and @SamMitchellNBA about staying out of the second apron
Oklahoma City traded Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in moves that helped bring the Thunder below the second apron. Atlanta acquired Dort and Wiggins, adding championship experience and perimeter depth while Oklahoma City addressed its financial commitments.
The Thunder were not prohibited from keeping those players. However, the costs and restrictions associated with an expensive roster helped create circumstances Atlanta could exploit. That distinction illustrates why financial discipline can have basketball value beyond the money saved.
Saleh’s challenge is recognizing when preserving flexibility becomes less valuable than using it. Keeping room to maneuver helps Atlanta pursue upgrades, but that flexibility ultimately needs to translate into a stronger team around Jalen Johnson.
His comments do not establish a spending timetable or identify a particular move. They do, however, indicate that entering the tax is an available option rather than a boundary the front office has been instructed never to cross.
That leaves the central decision with Saleh and his staff: determining which opportunity justifies the commitment. Spending on a roster that still needs substantial work could leave Atlanta paying more while making its next improvement harder. Spending when the right pieces are in place could help sustain a team capable of competing deeper into the postseason.
For now, Saleh’s message remains consistent. The Hawks want to make smart decisions, benefit from opportunities elsewhere and preserve the ability to act decisively. His willingness to discuss entering the tax adds substance to that approach. When Atlanta believes the moment has arrived, Saleh says the authority to spend is there.
Irving Cota of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 15, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Happy birthday to Mordecai Brown*, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 2016 – The Cubs tie the NLCS at two wins apiece with a 10-2 beating of the Dodgers as they tee off on two rookie pitchers, Julio Urias and Ross Stripling. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both end long hitting droughts with homers,and other stories as well.
2004 – Curt Schilling, pitching on a dislocated ankle tendon held down by three sutures put in the day before, gives up one run over seven innings as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees, 4-2, to save their season for the third day in a row and force a winner-take-all Game 7 in their American League Championship Series.
2019 – The Astros punch their ticket to the World Series with a 6-4 win over the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS. With both teams using an opener after losing a travel day due to a rainout before Game 4, the Astros take an early lead on a three-run homer by Yuli Gurriel off Chad Green in the 1st, but the Yankees claw their way back, tying the game on a two-run shot by D.J. LeMahieu off closer Roberto Osuna in the top of the 9th. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Jose Altuve ends the game with a walk-off two-run homer off Aroldis Chapman. Altuve is named the winner of the ALCS MVP Award.
2024 – The Yankees win Game 5 of the ALCS, 5-2 over Cleveland, to punch their ticket to the World Series. The game is tied until the 10th inning, when Juan Soto hits a three-run homer off Hunter Gaddis to provide the winning margin. Giancarlo Stanton, who hits his fourth homer of the series in the sixth inning, is named ALCS MVP.
1492 – Christopher Columbus sights the island he names “Isabela,” believed to be present-day Fortune Island (Long Cay) in the Bahamas.
1781 – British forces under General Charles Cornwallis sign terms of surrender to George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau at Yorktown at 2 p.m., effectively ending the American Revolutionary War.
1870 – First African Americans (four) elected to the US House of Representatives.
1961 – Mayor J.W. Snider of Medford, Oregon, delivers a check for $1.96, covering the County of Jackson, Oregon’s estimated portion of cost of the tea lost during the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
1999 – Cher releases the single “Believe” (Billboard Song of the Year, 1999; Grammy Award Best Dance Recording, 2000).
2007 – Patrick Kane scores his first NHL goal against José Théodore of the Colorado Avalanche.
2010 – Decca Records releases “The Union,” a collaborative album between Elton John and Leon Russell, in the US, and it becomes the highest-charting album for both artists in over 30 years.
2025 – Thieves disguised as construction workers force open a Louvre museum upper floor window, smash display cases, and flee with eight pieces of Napoleonic jewels worth over $100M; daylight heist occurs 30 minutes after opening, with visitors already inside.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The MLB playoffs continue on, with nothing for Orioles fans to do except watch forlornly as former O’s castoffs play critical roles for successful teams. Such was the case last night as the Rays took a 3-2 series lead over the Guardians with a win in Cleveland, putting Tampa Bay one win away from the franchise’s third World Series appearance.
In yesterday’s 3-1 victory, the Rays entrusted their last four outs to two recent Orioles relievers, Tyler Wells and Bryan Baker. In the eighth, Wells, summoned with two outs and a man aboard, got arguably the biggest out of the game, striking out future Hall of Famer José Ramírez, who represented the potential tying run. And the ninth inning belonged to Baker, who has become a lockdown closer in less than two seasons with the Rays after the O’s dumped him in July 2025. He worked past a leadoff walk to retire the Guardians with ease, earning his 34th consecutive save dating back to mid-May. (It’s still wild to me that Baker had only two losses the entire season, and both came against the Orioles.) Cedric Mullins and Jorge Mateo also briefly appeared in the game.
You can’t blame O’s fans if they’re feeling conflicted about the former Orioles’ success. On the one hand, it’s nice to see some familiar faces finding success, especially fan favorites like Mullins. On the other hand, in Baker’s case especially, it makes you wonder why the Orioles couldn’t unlock the same kind of success from these players that the Rays have. Baker was an erratic middle reliever for the Orioles, and the Rays almost instantly turned him into one of the best closers in the game. And all the O’s got in return for him was a draft pick, which turned into Slater de Brun, whom they ended up trading back Tampa Bay anyway. It’s almost as if — and try to stay with me here — the Rays are a much better-run organization than the Orioles. Who knew?
If the Rays seal the deal tonight or tomorrow and punch their ticket to the World Series, we’ll be seeing a bevy of former Birds in the Fall Classic, including Tampa Bay’s quartet and the Brewers’ DL Hall and Joey Ortiz (and Gary Sánchez, not that he counts as one who got away.) All of these guys were on the Orioles within the past few years, and now they’ve achieved something that the current Orioles are nowhere close to doing. Good for them. Bad for us.
It’s hard to get excited about Holliday when one of the “positives” from this season is that he didn’t have a platoon split, OPSing .643 against righties and .632 against lefties. Neither of those is good!
The Orioles may have whiffed on Bryan Baker, but they’ve had a few of their own mild successes in grabbing other teams’ castoffs and turning them into useful relievers. They got productive 2026 performances from some pitchers who I didn’t know existed a year ago.
Roch Kubatko fields questions about (among other things) why it’s incredibly dumb to say that a reporter doesn’t have the right to record you during a press conference. As if somebody would spout something so foolish.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Five former Orioles were born on this day, including All-Star Anthony Santander (32). The switch-hitting outfielder developed from a raw Rule 5 draftee into a premier slugger, ending his O’s career with a 44-homer, 102-RBI season in 2024 before signing a five-year, $92.5 million free agent deal with the Blue Jays. Because it’s his birthday, I won’t talk about how his Blue Jays tenure has turned out so far.
Other former Orioles with Oct. 19 birthdays include longtime Blue Jay and notable irritant José Bautista (46), right-handers Jordan Lyles (36) and Oswaldo Peraza (64), and the late catcher Vic Roznovsky (b. 1938, d. 2022).
On this date in 1959, the Orioles acquired Jim Gentile, a little-used outfielder for the Dodgers, in exchange for shortstop Willy Miranda. It ended up being a great piece of business for the Birds. Gentile spent four years in Baltimore and crushed 20+ homers each season, including a sensational 1961 campaign in which he collected 46 homers and tied Roger Maris with an AL-leading 141 RBIs. Gentile was a three-time All-Star, the 1960 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, and third-place finisher for the 1961 AL MVP. Miranda, meanwhile, never played another major league game.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 14: Aidan Miller #21 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tampa Bay has a 3-2 lead in the ALCS and is heading home to finish it off. It has been a very good series for both teams so far and is tough to see it end either way.
Though both are probably getting steamrolled by Milwaukee.
World No 6 Svitolina opens up about toll of Russia’s war
French star Monfils has retired after glittering career
The world No 6 Elina Svitolina has announced she has separated from her husband Gaël Monfils.
In an emotional Instagram post, the 32-year-old Ukrainian opened up about the mental toll of Russia’s war against her country, describing sleepless nights and self-doubt. Svitolina said she had come to realise she needed to rediscover herself and could no longer do so within her marriage.
A young Victorian quick has quickly become one of the country’s hottest properties, while a batter who last played for Australia three years ago pulled off an epic recovery mission as the second round of the Sheffield Shield began on Monday.
After some proper Sunday rest following the Ontario road trip, the Islanders return to work to prepare for this week’s visits form the SoCal teams, and we’ll learn what adjustments they’ll make with two regular forwards out with injuries.
Islanders News
From Saturday’s injury-depleted win in Toronto: Takeaways…“We stuck to our systems. We trusted each other. There were a lot of great things,” said DeBoer. [Isles] Running mates Holmstrom and Pageau as players of the game. [Isles]
The injuries to Cal Ritchie and particularly Matias Maccelli will force some lineup decisions. Kyle MacLean, we can’t quit you. [Newsday]
The situation should present some opportunity, as well as pressure on Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Duclair to produce. [Post]
In praise of Ondrej Palat having a good, turn-back-the-clock game. [Post | THN]
Matthew Schaefer continues to be the sweetest human in the NHL. He brought a very young cancer sufferer to the game in Toronto and for the pre-game, rink-side interview. [NHL]
Elsewhere
The Flyers finally got a win, sadly, against the Senators, but took some more injury hits. [NHL] Prior to the Flyers winning, Kurtz checked in with a “this probably ends with Tocchet fired” piece. [Athletic]
In which the Jets players are asked about Connor Hellebuyck, who reportedly was ready to return as of Oct. 2 but was told, “not so fast, holdout” by the Jets. [Sportsnet]
The Stars are ready to talk contract, again, with Jason Robertson. [NHL]
Having full-time, dedicated EBUGs seems popular with NHL goalies, who could use the rest during drills and practices of an 84-game season.
Kyle Okposo is working with the NHLPA to help players have more…non-player identity, or something. [Athletic]
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 05: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during the game against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang recently marked 20 years since they first played together on Oct. 18, 2006. Twenty years later, the partnership—and friendships—still endure. [Post-Gazette]
Defenseman Kaedan Korczak is embracing a fresh start in Pittsburgh after spending the first several years of his NHL career with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he struggled at times to secure a consistent role. [Trib Live]
Penguins prospect Tanner Howe is entering his second professional season healthy and focused on earning a future NHL opportunity after injuries delayed the start of his career. [Trib Live]
The Penguins recalled defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the team’s AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Sunday evening. The team also reassigned defenseman Ryan Johnson to the AHL in a corresponding move. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The Florida Panthers made NHL history Saturday, becoming the first team to record natural hat tricks in three consecutive games during an 8-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Carter Verhaeghe scored three straight goals to extend the streak after Brady Tkachuk accomplished the feat in Florida’s previous two games. [Sportsnet]
The Toronto Maple Leafs are willing to trade a premium asset to acquire a difference-making defenseman as they deal with injuries and struggles on the blue line. [Sportsnet]
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck could rejoin the team this Friday, Oct. 23, when his team-imposed suspension for failing to report to training camp is expected to end, according to reports. Hellebuyck requested a trade in the offseason and reportedly informed the Jets before their season opener that he intended to return, but his future with Winnipeg remains uncertain. [ESPN]
Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post, your home for open conversation with your fellow Carolina Panthers fans.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
Yet, no team has repeated as NBA champion in eight seasons, not since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2018.
The NBA, however, did see some seismic changes in the offseason, none more impactful than in the Eastern Conference, where the Miami Heat acquired two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, where the Philadelphia 76ers pried away LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and where Kawhi Leonard is returning to Toronto to lead the Raptors.
In any case, it’s a new day, and optimism abounds. The title pursuit begins now.
With that in mind, here are the record predictions for the entire 2026-27 NBA season, with a sneek peek at the playoffs below.
NBA regular-season record projections
Predicting how each division will shake out following 82 games in the 2026-27 season:
NBA playoff projections
Our predictions for the 2026-27 NBA postseason from the first round in each conference to the NBA Finals:
The Philadelphia Flyers have finally remembered how to win a hockey game, so the Colorado Avalanche won’t be facing a winless team on Monday after all. That’s one storyline off the table, but Philly still has plenty to prove.
After taking care of the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-2 win at Ball Arena on Friday, the Avalanche are heading to Xfinity Mobile Arena to face the Flyers, who entered the weekend still searching for their first win of the season. Philadelphia finally got it done Saturday, beating the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at home to improve to 1-6-3. Better late than never, right?
One win doesn’t exactly erase what’s been a rough start for Philadelphia.
Through 10 games, the Flyers have surrendered 34 goals, tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the most allowed among Eastern Conference teams. The difference? Buffalo has scored 27 goals of its own, while the Flyers have managed just 14—the fewest in the Eastern Conference. Scoring goals apparently isn’t high on Philadelphia’s list of priorities right now.
Nazem Kadri following morning skate on Friday.
A few teams around the league have been even worse defensively. The Chicago Blackhawks have allowed 36 goals, the Calgary Flames have given up 37, and the Vancouver Canucks have surrendered a whopping 45. That leaves Philadelphia tied for the fourth-most goals allowed in the NHL. Not exactly the kind of company you want to keep.
Meanwhile, Colorado has looked far more comfortable on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche enter Monday’s matchup with a 5-2-1 record, 36 goals scored, and 27 allowed. Only the Vegas Golden Knights (42) and Edmonton Oilers (37) have scored more than Colorado this season. Vegas has already played 10 games, while the Oilers have also had more opportunities to pad their totals. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes have scored 36 goals as well, though they’ve also played 10 games.
All things considered, the Avs are off to a pretty solid start.
MacKinnon and Lehkonen Are Running the Show
Here’s a stat that might surprise you heading into Monday’s game: Nathan MacKinnon isn’t the Avalanche’s outright leader in goals. Technically, he is—but he has company.
Through eight games, MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen are tied with eight goals apiece. Apparently, scoring goals is more fun when you have someone to share the spotlight with.
Philadelphia has lost four of its last five matchups against Colorado, although the Flyers did win the most recent meeting, a 7-3 blowout at Ball Arena on January 23. The last time these teams met in Philadelphia was December 7, 2025, when Colorado escaped with a 3-2 victory.
MacKinnon has six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 22 career games against the Flyers. He’s been particularly productive lately, recording three goals and six assists for nine points in his last five games against Philadelphia. The catch? He hasn’t scored a goal in either of the teams’ last two meetings. He did, however, dish out two assists in that January 23 matchup.
Lehkonen has scored four career goals against Philadelphia. The last time he found the back of the net against the Flyers was during his first season with Colorado, about six months after the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022. So, yeah, it’s been a minute.
Cale Makar has also made his presence felt against Philadelphia, tallying three goals and three assists in his last five games against the Flyers.
Then there’s Martin Necas, whose goal total against Philadelphia might not jump off the page, but whose playmaking certainly does. He has 17 points in 20 career games against the Flyers, with 14 of those coming from assists. Clearly, he’s found a few ways to make himself useful against this team.
There's another reason for Avalanche fans to be optimistic heading into Monday's matchup: the power play may finally be finding its groove under new assistant coach Brett McLean.
Colorado scored a power play goal against Pittsburgh on Friday, offering an early glimpse of what this unit could look like under new guidance. It's only one goal, so nobody's handing out trophies just yet, but Monday presents another opportunity to show that a coaching change might have been exactly what this group needed. If the Avs can keep producing with the man advantage against Philadelphia, that early progress could start looking like something more than a one-game flash.
Blackwood Could Have a Field Day
Mackenzie Blackwood will likely get the start in net for Colorado, and if there’s a matchup tailor-made for him to put on a show, this might be it.
Blackwood took the loss in Colorado’s 7-3 defeat against Philadelphia in January, but his career numbers against the Flyers tell a much different story. In 16 games, he’s posted an 11-3-2 record, a 2.48 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage.
Not too shabby.
He’s also coming in hot, having won his last two starts while posting a .929 save percentage. If he can keep that momentum going against a Philadelphia team that has struggled mightily to score, the Avalanche could be in for a comfortable night.
Of course, hockey has a funny way of making things complicated when they should be simple. Still, Blackwood has plenty of history against the Flyers from his days with the New Jersey Devils, and he’ll have a good opportunity to build on an already impressive record against them.
Can the Flyers Actually Score?
Matvei Michkov leads Philadelphia with four goals and one assist for five points through 10 games. Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras are next, each with two goals and two assists for four points.
That’s not exactly an intimidating offensive leaderboard, especially when you consider Colorado has already scored 36 goals this season.
Dan Vladar will likely get the start in net for Philadelphia. He hasn’t faced Colorado as a Flyer, but he’s familiar with the Avalanche from his four seasons with the Calgary Flames. In six career games against Colorado with Calgary, Vladar went 2-4 with a 3.88 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage.
Those numbers don’t exactly inspire confidence against an Avalanche offense that’s been lighting up the scoreboard. If Philadelphia wants to make this a competitive game, Vladar may need to stand on his head—and the Flyers will need to give him a little more help than they have over the first 10 games.
The Avalanche have the offensive firepower, the goaltending matchup looks favorable, and Philadelphia is still trying to figure out how to score consistently. The Flyers may have finally gotten that first win out of the way, but they’ll need a whole lot more than one victory to keep pace with Colorado.
Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time on Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Kawhi Leonard is back for a second spell with the Raptors. Photograph: Cole Burston/Getty Images
When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. “There’s just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself,” he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.
Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the title in 2014.
“The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone,” the team’s president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. “We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are.”
But even a historic season wasn’t enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. “There wasn’t as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left,” says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. “I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a title, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto.”
Raptors fans’ anger was instead directed towards the Clippers, who not only showed up to almost every Raptors game during the championship season, but who also, we now know, went under the table to ensure Leonard signed lucrative endorsement deals totaling over $50m – violating the NBA’s salary cap rules.
Robertson was suspended for five years and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was handed the harshest punishment in NBA history, including the loss of five first-round draft picks and a year-long suspension. However, thanks to a side-deal between the NBA and its Players Association executed to avoid arbitration, Leonard was given a relatively light $700,000 fine (he has earned $375m in salary so far in his career).
“Kawhi’s … gotten away really clean from what is obviously out-of-bounds behavior,” says Arthur, who reported that Leonard – as much as he pleads ignorance to all this – was in the room when Robertson asked the Raptors for an ownership stake in the Toronto Maple Leafs and at least $10m per year in no-show sponsorship deals in 2019. “So, perfect heist-type stuff from Kawhi.”
Despite being one of the greatest players of his generation, the 35-year-old has burned bridges on his way out of every franchise he’s played for. Spurs fans are still upset by the way his injury was handled in 2017-18, while Clippers fans are distraught about being left holding the bag without even a genuine apology from Leonard. But Raptors fans have much more complicated feelings towards the seven-time All-Star – arguably the best player in franchise history.
On the one hand, “There was a sense of defiance, especially the first year after Kawhi left [when the Raptors lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals] ... and there was a great deal of pride that went into that,” says William Lou, the host and creator of the Hello and Welcomepodcast. But as time went on, “The Clippers were humbled in a basketball sense. They never could get that version of Kawhi … that Toronto got in their one year, and so it’s hard to be too mad.”
Arthur says Raptors fans will always associate Leonard with the championship win. “I think the bottom line isn’t necessarily about a lack of moral reckoning by Raptors fans as much as: this guy’s so good that you forgive him, right?” says Arthur. “The [championship] was the greatest moment in franchise history by galaxies. Two and a half million people on the streets of Toronto for the parade. That was one of the best days Toronto’s ever had.”
The sentiment was seemingly shared by the organization. Despite being frustrated by the way his previous free agency unfolded, the Raptors front office couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab the lifeline Leonard represented – even in his mid 30s. The Raptors have failed to win a playoff series since 2020, a stretch that includes three grim seasons of 30 wins or fewer. Last season, the franchise pulled itself out of the dregs of the league thanks to a star leap from 25-year-old Scottie Barnes and a handful of smart trades and draft picks, but the Raptors looked like a relatively expensive, middle-of-the-pack team with a difficult path towards contention until Leonard not only became available, but pushed his way towards Toronto.
“This city took a liking to my family, and I took a liking to this city,” Leonard said in the team-owned documentary series Open Gym after the Raptors traded Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick-swap for him in mid-September. “Hopefully they embrace me back and [I] give them my all again, and we can make something special happen once again.”
Although there were extenuating circumstances leading to Leonard’s return – he and the Clippers are under investigation by the Justice Department – it is meaningful that he chose the Raptors over big-market championship contenders like Miami, Minnesota, and Detroit. It’s also important that he proclaimed his desire to retire a Raptor before signing a two-year, $115m extension with the franchise. “He deserves to have his jersey retired somewhere,” says Lou. “But due to the circumstances of his career, he kind of was a player without a home.”
Leonard now has a chance to rewrite his complicated legacy with a familiar franchise. Leading the Raptors back to anywhere near the promised land would ensure him a jersey retirement ceremony, a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction, and Canadian sports immortality.
The Raptors, meanwhile, aren’t just getting an upgrade at the wing position; they are getting an all-time great coming off one of the best seasons of his career – an American superstar who experienced all the small cultural discomforts of playing in Toronto and still had such positive memories of the fans, organization, and city that he chose to return to.
“It’s a little surreal having this guy who leaves after a championship, and you think the story’s done there, and then he becomes the biggest scandal in the NBA, and then somehow forces his way to the Raptors,” says diehard Raptors fan Imman Adan. “But I definitely think him coming back cements Toronto’s legacy.”
It’s complicated, of course. It always will be so long as the Raptors are the lone NBA franchise outside of the United States. But no matter how Leonard’s second tenure in Toronto plays out, his return is a stamp of approval – one that many Raptors fans have been waiting for since the franchise began.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Jeremiah Estrada #56 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Post | Joel Sherman: The Yankees have long eyed San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada, according to Sherman. The righty is entering his first year of arbitration and, of course, wouldn’t be easy to acquire given his 3.47 career ERA and 34.2 percent strikeout rate. He would come with some injury-related questions, though, having missed time with knee and shoulder issues this year. It isn’t clear when the Bombers’ interest became a thing, or if there were even discussions of a trade.
MLB Trade Rumors | AJ Eustace: The Yankees didn’t really get much from the third base position in 2026, with their 74 wRC+ tied for fifth-worst in the league. That was in large part the result of playing Ryan McMahon and his 78 wRC+ in 124 games. Eustace believes it is ‘increasingly hard’ to envision the former Rockie having a prominent role in 2027, and names Teruaki Sato, Alec Bohm, J.P. Crawford or bringing back Jazz Chisholm Jr. as free agent options, and Isaac Paredes, Royce Lewis, and Nolan Gorman as potential trade targets.
Newsday | Erik Boland: The Yankees have plenty of needs this offseason, and a lot of players on their 2026 roster are also hitting the market. Boland examined 10 of those players and their likelihood of returning to the Bronx. It’s definitely worth a read, but we’ll give you a hint: most of them are unlikely to call New York their home come 2027.
