Raptors Banking on Often Injured Kawhi Leonard Angers Gilbert Arenas: “The Future Of Your Team Is With the Clippers”

Gilbert Arenas believes the Toronto Raptors are putting in a lot of trust on a 35-year-old and an injury prone Kawhi Leonard.

Raptors Banking on Often Injured Kawhi Leonard Angers Gilbert Arenas: “The Future Of Your Team Is With the Clippers”

Gilbert Arenas and Kawhi Leonard (Image credits - GQ and The Sporting News)

It is now safe to say that Kawhi Leonard‘s era with the Los Angeles Clippers has ended up being a complete disaster. After a difficult seven-year stint in LA, the Clippers finally decided to hit the reset button and traded away their star player.

Leonard joined the Clippers as a free agent in 2019 after winning the championship and Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors,. The signing was a power move from the organization as they looked to compete against their crosstown rivals, Los Angeles Lakers.

Unfortunately, Leonard’s time with the Clippers was deeply plagued by injuries and lack of availability. Their best postseason run was a Western Conference Finals finish in 2021. To add to their disappointing results on the court, they were hit by a number of allegations off the court over the past year.

Former All-Star Gilbert Arenas weighed in on Leonard’s move to the Raptors in the summer.

You traded all your young pieces with all your young pieces. The future of your team is at the Clippers now. You got him for a year or two and he’s gone, now what you got? Nothing.

Gilbert Arenas said on Gil’s Arena

Leonard may have spent only one season in Toronto, but he will forever be remembered by the fans as he led them to their first and only championship back in 2019.

After the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, the Raptors made one of the biggest moves of the summer by trading for the two-time champion from the Clippers.

While Leonard’s return to Toronto has generated a lot of excitement among Raptors fans, Gilbert Arenas is skeptical about the move. The seven-time All-Star may be one of the best players in the world when healthy, however, health has always remained a concern for him throughout his career.

Arenas is well known for not shying away from speaking his mind. As such, he believes that the only thing that has changed with Toronto is the illusion of a 35-year-old player that is only going to be there for a year or two.

After all, the Raptors traded away Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-rounders for Leonard.

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Gilbert Arenas thought Kawhi Leonard would be a mentor to the young Raptors team

The Raptors were one of the biggest surprises in the Eastern Conference last season. After missing three consecutive playoffs, the Raptors finished at fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

While they were beaten by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the first round, the signs looked promising for the future.

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard (Image credits – LA Times)

With the Raptors trading away Ingram and Dick along with a number of picks, they have given up a lot of their future assets for Leonard.

However, the move was put on hold till the NBA investigated into the Clippers-Leonard hidden sponsorship deals. After the NBA concluded its investigation, the trade was given the green light.

Arenas was critical of how much the Raptors gave up for the 35-year-old as he saw the forward as a mentor to the young players.

I thought he would come there add with those guys and teach those guys how to be great and they can move on. You got rid of three or four young people that’s gonna build with Scottie Barnes that’s gonna move the needle together.

Gilbert Arenas said on Gil’s Arena

While Arenas said the Raptors traded away three or four young players, they traded away just two. Nevertheless, they did give up two of their first-round picks.

Considering the age and injury record of the veteran two-time NBA champion, the Raptors will need to make a deep run in the playoffs next year to justify the trade.

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Kawhi Leonard ready to take backseat behind Scottie Barnes

Kawhi Leonard is coming off an impressive 2025-26 campaign in terms of individual numbers. While he could not lead the Clippers to the playoffs, he did average a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 65 appearances.

However, he will return to a very different roster compared to the one he won with in 2019. Scottie Barnes is their focal point and Leonard made it clear that he is willing to take a secondary role behind the young star.

You guys were very aggressive last year, playing against you guys and watching. It was fun. I’m not here to take over anything. I want to help your vision. Help Scottie, whatever. I just want to win. If it’s Scottie’s team, it’s his team. I just want to do whatever it takes to help you guys win.

Kawhi Leonard said on Raptors’ Open Gym series

With the former Defensive Player of the Year officially returning to the Raptors, fans are eager to see what kind of a role Leonard plays for them in the upcoming season. But based of his performances last season, the veteran has shown that he can still be one of the best players in the league when healthy.

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