The Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors trade for Kawhi Leonard remains in limbo.
Leonard’s seven-year tenure with the Clippers appeared to be over after he was traded to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, June 30.
The Raptors were going to send forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap to Los Angeles.
Instead, both teams have put a halt to the trade, citing an ongoing investigation.
Leonard, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, and Leonard’s uncle/advisor Dennis Robertson are being investigated for their alleged involvement in a “no-show” agreement with a company, Aspiration, to funnel extra compensation to Leonard as part of a salary cap circumvention.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated on July 14 that he expects the investigation to be concluded before the start of the 2026-27 season. Silver and the NBA are not conducting the investigation and instead using a third-party law firm.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported earlier this week that the investigation into the Clippers and Leonard could carry on into 2027. If the investigation were to carry on into the upcoming season, Leonard could be back in a Clippers uniform.
“I can’t comment on the specifics of the investigation, but what I can say is we did not do what we are accused of doing,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, saud on June 23, a week before the trade was announced. “The investigation has had no impact on how we go about our business. We just continue to go about our business as normal.”
The Raptors are not ready to officially welcome Leonard until a decision is reached regarding the investigation.
The organization released the following statement on July 9:
“Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.
In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.
The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”
Toronto doesn’t want to be stuck in a situation like the Miami Heat found themselves in with Terry Rozier.
The Heat traded for Rozier, and he was out of the league a year later as a result of federal gambling probe. Rozier was initially charged with wire fraud and money laundering in the Eastern District of New York in December and was given two new charges this May of of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy.
Will Clippers welcome Kawhi Leonard back?
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared on the network’s show “NBA Today” that the Clippers would be fine with having Leonard back on the team next season.
The genesis of the trade happened because the Clippers were not willing to extend Leonard’s contract beyond the upcoming season, according to Shelburne.
Leonard is scheduled to make $50.3 million during the final year of his contract.
What’s Brandon Ingram thoughts on pending trade?
Ingram was named as an NBA All-Star for the second time in his career this past season. He played in 77 games in his first season with the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes per game.
Marc J. Spears stated that he spoke with Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, about Ingram.
“It’s a business,” Spears said while sharing Paul’s comments on the show. “Brandon knows it’s a business. He’s fine either way.”
Ingram will make $40 million next season. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers-Raptors Kawhi Leonard trade remains on hold: Where things stand
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