The Toronto Raptors’ 2026-27 schedule already has one important date for fans: November 2. Toronto will play the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. It will be only the Raptors’ seventh game of the new season.

However, this game could be much more important than a normal early-season game because the Kawhi Leonard trade is still not settled.

The November 2 game could become Leonard’s much-awaited return to Los Angeles in a Raptors jersey. It could also become a reminder that the big trade is still stuck and has not been completed.

Under the proposed trade, Leonard would join Toronto, while Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick would move to the Clippers, according to Raptors Rapture’s Amos Caesar Mina.

The main problem is that the trade is still not complete. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers broke the salary cap rules.

Toronto has decided to wait until the investigation ends before completing the trade. Because of this, Leonard is still officially a Clippers player. Ingram and Dick also remain with their current teams for now.

Still, there is some hope around the situation. Leonard has reportedly been acting this summer as if he is already going back to Toronto. This could be a good sign for the Raptors.

Leonard’s team and many Raptors fans expect the situation to be solved before training camp. Training camp will take place from September 29 to October 2 in Quebec City.

However, there is still a big concern. The investigation could continue into the regular season and even into 2027. If Leonard gets a long suspension or his contract gets canceled, Toronto’s plan to get the two-time Finals MVP could completely fall apart.

Raptors Could Need a Backup Plan If Kawhi Leonard Trade Stalls

The uncertainty has also made Toronto look at other options. According to Heavy’s Sai Mohan, who cited FanSided’s Chris Lambert, the Raptors could consider Michael Porter Jr. if the Leonard trade does not happen.

Lambert said that Porter is not as good as Leonard. However, he believes Toronto may not find another star like Leonard this offseason.

Porter is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 24.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He also made a career-high 3.4 three-pointers per game last season.

That shooting could help Toronto fix one of its biggest problems. Lambert noted that the Raptors ranked 26th in three-pointers made per game during the 2025-26 season. This made floor spacing a regular problem for the team. 

SportsNet’s Michael Grange reported that the NBA had unofficially finished its investigation and could announce a decision soon. Insider Jake Fischer also reported that Leonard’s camp remains confident that he will join Toronto for training camp.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Rudra Dubey