His wrist barely slapped by the NBA, Kawhi Leonard scores a payday with Raptors

OPINION His wrist barely slapped by the NBA, Kawhi Leonard scores a payday with Raptors CATHAL KELLY PUBLISHED 28 MINUTES AGO UPDATED 8 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to their lone NBA championship in 2019. He has signed a two-year contract extension with Toronto, seven years after his dramatic departure in free agency. MOE DOIRON/REUTERS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. A lot of people were reamed in the NBA’s 36-page report on the Kawhi Leonard-L.A. Clippers boondoggle. Clippers executives “systematically violated NBA rules.” Owner Steve Ballmer was among those “most responsible for the Clippers’ rule-breaking.” But the guy who actually received millions in off-the-books backhanders? It’s like he had nothing to do with it. The worst the report accuses him of is “successfully pressuring” the Clippers to funnel little brown envelopes his way. Even then, Leonard is at one remove. The report makes clear that Leonard’s former agent, the notorious Uncle Dennis, did the actual pressuring. Nonetheless, everyone knows Leonard did wrong. If not legally, then ethically. On Wednesday, Leonard received his punishment – a two-year, US$115-million extension with the Toronto Raptors. Leonard once asked MLSE for a chunk of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but who needs the bother of running a business? For his many sins, Leonard’s now owed more than the Leafs’ entire salary cap. Andrew Willis: Kawhi reunion rewards Raptors, MLSE for rejecting absurd demands Some day soon, Leonard will be officially reintroduced to the city of Toronto. It’s going to be like watching Keyser Soze lose the limp while skipping nimbly toward the getaway car at the end of The Usual Suspects. The driving force of the scheme that rocked the NBA isn’t just getting away with it. He’s getting promoted. Sports is an entertainment business, and who would argue that this isn’t entertaining? It’s by far the most interesting thing that’s happened to the Raptors since the time Leonard brutally dumped them. This go-around will also end in tears, and every single person involved knows it. That’s what happens when you date scoundrels. But the Raptors can’t help themselves. The chemistry is too good to let common sense intrude. In his way, Leonard is the most remarkable athlete ever to play in Toronto. He upends all the stereotypes about how a star should…