sports
Raptors Extend Rajakovic and Trade Multiple Picks and Players for Kawhi Leonard
The Toronto Raptors agreed to a multiyear contract extension with coach Darko Rajakovic on July 2, 2026. The deal follows a trade that brought Leonard back to the franchise he led to the 2019 NBA title.
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The Toronto Raptors agreed to a multiyear contract extension with coach Darko Rajakovic on July 2, 2026, ESPN reported. The announcement came days after the team completed a trade to acquire Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers. Leonard led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship in his only prior season with the club.
The Raptors sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap to the Clippers in exchange for the 35-year-old forward. Rajakovic guided the Raptors to 46 wins in the 2025-26 season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The team lost in Game 7 of the first round to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
His record over three seasons stands at 101-105. The Raptors hired Rajakovic more than three years ago to replace Nick Nurse. He is the second Serbian-born coach in the NBA after Igor Kokosov. Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game in 65 games during the 2025-26 season.
He is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection and two-time NBA champion.
