“It’s possible the Toronto Raptors’ trade for Kawhi Leonard doesn’t go through before the start of the upcoming season.
The NBA investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Leonard could last into 2027 if the parties disagree on findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported on Wednesday.
According to Holmes’ report, the NBPA wouldn’t hesitate to take the matter to arbitration if the NBA sought penalties without sufficient evidence proving the claim.
The Clippers have vehemently denied any wrongdoing since the initial reporting from Pablo Torre sparked the league’s inquiry nearly 11 months ago.
The Raptors agreed to acquire Leonard on June 30, in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-round picks in 2030 and 2033, and a first-round pick swap in 2027. However, the Raptors and Clippers later decided to delay the trade until the investigation is complete.
“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,” the Raptors said in a statement.
“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.”
The Clippers have said that they’re “fully” cooperative with the investigation, “participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.”
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison,” the Clippers said in a statement.”