When Kawhi Leonard arrived at the Toronto Raptors, he made it clear from the onset of his intentions to leave. This revelation came as a shock to the Raptors’ fans but was not surprising to his teammates, including Fred VanVleet, who is now part of the Houston Rockets organization. Despite Leonard’s early departure, his performance during his stint with the Raptors has left a lasting impression.

Leonard’s Departure from the Raptors

The 2019 championship celebrations were still fresh when the Toronto Raptors began anxiously contemplating Leonard’s future with the team. The LA Clippers, LA Lakers, and Raptors were reportedly vying for him. Despite the Raptors’ best efforts to retain Leonard, he chose to move on, a decision that didn’t take VanVleet by surprise.

“He said it from day one. ‘I’m not staying here,'” VanVleet said on the Hello and Welcome podcast. “From day one, ‘I don’t know why they traded for me. I don’t want to be here. I’m not staying here.'”

Fred VanVleet on Leonard’s Decision

Many Raptors fans found it easier to forgive Leonard’s decision to leave, given his commendable efforts on the court during his sole season with the team. VanVleet echoes this sentiment, appreciating the impact Leonard had on the team and his personal career.

“As for us regular people, we can look at it and say, ‘Man, how could you leave that?’ But his mind was made up, Kawhi is Kawhi. I thank him eternally for helping us win a championship and carrying us to a moment to where I could be solidified and go on to make a ton of money. We’re forever indebted to him for that.”

Leonard’s Journey with the Clippers

Though the Clippers emerged victorious in the 2019 Kawhi sweepstakes, the journey has been far from smooth. Leonard has spent much of his tenure in Los Angeles grappling with injuries. The Clippers’ strategy of trading for Paul George to entice Leonard has notably backfired. That deal involved sending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and several draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have since won an NBA championship. Meanwhile, the Clippers have only made it to the Western Conference Final once with Kawhi.

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Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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