Devil in the details, but everyone wins with Raptors-Kawhi Leonard extension

It’s good to be in the NBA, and it’s especially good to be Kawhi Leonard .

Even if the contract extension the Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday with their new/old star forward will be the last deal the 35-year-old signs, Leonard would retire after the 2028-29 season having earned nearly $500 million playing basketball. Plus, quite literally, who knows how much more via, ahem, his 'endorsements.'

But context matters. And in the context of the Raptors signing Leonard, it matters that he signed for two years and $115 million — and not for the maximum $126-million extension he was eligible to sign on a deal that covers 2027-28 and 2028-29.

In the apron era, ever dollar saved matters.