Kawhi Leonard trade from Clippers to Raptors stalls over NBA investigation
The deal is on hold until the NBA finishes its probe into alleged Clippers salary-cap violations, with Toronto told to assume the risk.
- On Thursday, the Toronto Raptors paused their acquisition of Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers, agreeing to assume the risk of any potential penalties resulting from the NBA's ongoing investigation into the franchise.
- The league is investigating whether the Clippers used Aspiration, a now-defunct company, to secretly pay Leonard $28 million through an alleged 'no-show' endorsement deal, violating the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million in Aspiration, which allegedly provided the two-time NBA Finals MVP with the side deal, potentially violating Article 13 of the collective bargaining agreement.
- The Clippers denied wrongdoing Thursday, maintaining they were victims of fraud, while the trade sends Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple draft picks to Los Angeles for the 35-year-old forward.
- With no firm timetable for conclusion, Commissioner Adam Silver stated the league must resolve the investigation soon, emphasizing that teams require finality regarding their operating situation.
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Toronto Raptors Receive Good News From LA Clippers About Kawhi Leonard Trade
The Toronto Raptors received some encouraging news from the LA Clippers about landing Kawhi Leonard after the agreed-upon trade was put in limbo. According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Clippers are still eager to pull off the Leonard trade to the Raptors, considering the draft assets they are getting from the deal […] The post Toronto Raptors Receive Good News From LA Clippers About Kawhi Leonard Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
The Kawhi Leonard Investigation Is Now Holding Up The Kawhi Leonard Trade
In September 2025 the NBA hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate the Los Angeles Clippers for potential salary cap circumvention after Pablo Torre Finds Out reported that the team had arranged a no-show endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with a fraudulent tree-planting company called Aspiration. On June 30, 2026, the Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. That trade is now on hold because, somehow, the…
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