The NBA’s investigation into the Clippers-Kawhi Leonard deal could drag into 2027.
The league is looking into weather the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by compensating Leonard through a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration — which had a 23-year, $300 million deal with the franchise before it went bankrupt.
According to ESPN sources, the probe may continue into the new year if the two parties can’t agree on the findings or a settlement that involves punishing the team.
During the NBA Summer League NBPA executive director David Kelly said he didn’t think there was a “there, there” on if the Clippers, who remain adament they are innocent of circumvention, actually paid Leonard through an edorsement deal.
Kawhi Leonard attends a game between the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. NBAE via Getty Images
Kelly added that he hadn’t seen anything the New York law firm leading the NBA’s investigation, Wachtell Lipton, had uncovered that was worth a punishment.
Another source told ESPN to take claims from Kelly or any outsider knowledge of Wachtell Liptons findings with skepticism, adding that it’s unlikely the length of the investigation is an indicator of the outcome.
ESPN sources close to the NBPA said the union wouldn’t wait to bring the matter to arbitration if the NBA seeks penalties without proper evidence.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Intuit Dome. Getty Images
The two parties can avoid the arbitration process, however, if the NBA finds sufficient evidence in the investigation that the Clippers circumvented the cap with Leonard and all parties agree on both the findings and the provided discipline.
Potential punishments could include team fines up to $7.5 million, direct forfeiture of draft picks, the voiding of player contracts and a suspension of up to a year for any team personnel found to have engaged in such a violation, according to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, attends the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference. REUTERS
Regardless of the outcome, Silver clearly wants this mess over with, telling reporters on July 14 that the investigation “needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season” and that it has taken “longer than I would have hoped.”
The Raptors likely agree, as their trade returning Leonard to Toronto has been placed on hold after they were informed by the league office that they could risk taking on any punishments handed to Leonard.
The deal would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks to the Clippers.
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