Raptors GM: We’re comfortable with Leonard ‘as a person and a player’

The Toronto Raptors had to wait longer than they expected for Kawhi Leonard’s return, but according to general manager Bobby Webster, their confidence in the acquisition never wavered.

“We had to be patient, and there were lots of twists and turns, but we wouldn’t have agreed to the deal if we didn’t have a level of confidence that we could get it done,” Webster told reporters Thursday.

Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers originally agreed to a blockbuster trade for Leonard in the final days of June, but the deal wasn’t consummated until September as the teams awaited the findings of an investigation into a cap-circumvention scandal surrounding Leonard.

“With any deal, you have to do a ton of due diligence,” Webster said. “We did our due diligence. We had the conversations we needed to have. We felt comfortable enough to obviously proceed. This was a really unique situation from all sides. Do I know everything that happened? No, from a factual standpoint. There are a lot of different parties involved. We had confidence that eventually the deal would go through.”

For the Clippers’ role in a scheme that helped Leonard earn off-court income from four companies, the team was stripped of five future first-round draft picks and fined $30 million, among other penalties. Leonard was fined $700,000 and said he accepted responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within his inner circle. In addition, Leonard’s uncle and former business adviser, Dennis Robertson, was banned from conducting NBA-related business or engaging with NBA teams for five years.

Leonard led the Raptors to the franchise’s only championship in 2019. Webster said the team’s history with the two-time Finals MVP made Toronto comfortable with acquiring him.

“There’s a familiarity from being with Kawhi seven years ago. You stay in touch, we’re in the same industry. We keep in touch with him when we see him on the road. As a person and a player, we were really comfortable,” Webster said. “There’s obviously a curiosity to know what has happened since then, but we had those conversations and we also felt comfortable (with that). That gave us a lot of confidence to move forward with the deal.”

The NBA initially said that the law firm it hired to conduct the investigation was continuing to receive information and the league would consider further action as appropriate. Federal prosecutors reportedly recently opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers’ alleged cap circumvention. However, when NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the investigation last week, he stated: “I think we all agree it’s time to move forward.”

“The lawyers are going to reserve their rights. I think that’s just the normal course of business, but I think the settlement with the union is probably what gave us assurance,” Webster said when asked if there was any concern Leonard might be subject to additional penalties.

Webster also addressed Leonard’s health. The Raptors infamously held Leonard out for “load management” throughout the 2018-19 season, limiting him to 60 games before he appeared in all 24 playoff contests. Leonard, who was 27 at the time, was managing a quad injury that had limited him to nine games the season prior.

The seven-time All-Star is now coming off one of his healthiest seasons in years. Leonard played 65 games for the Clippers last season and appeared in 24 consecutive contests at one point. He also averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game and was one of eight players to receive MVP votes. The 35-year-old has averaged 55.5 games per season over the last four years since returning from a knee injury that wiped out his entire 2021-22 campaign.

“Obviously, the goal is to keep him healthy, but it’s also Sept. 24. As we move forward, we’ll have a better sense,” Webster said when asked if Leonard will require a load management approach. “I think the biggest thing is he’s coming off a healthy season.”

The Raptors signed Leonard to a two-year, $115-million extension that could allow the veteran forward to earn up to $165 million over the next three seasons.

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