Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors is on hold as the NBA is still investigating his endorsement deals. But former NBA star Stephen Jackson thinks a return is already being prepared, as the trade has already happened.
Speaking on All the Smoke, Jackson claimed Leonard has already made a big move in Toronto.
“Man, they say Kawhi got a house in Toronto already. Investigating? If y’all want this s&&t going through, trust me, this s**t is going through. Trust me.”
Jackson’s comments are definitely not confirmation that Leonard has purchased a home, but they do add another growing layer of belief that the former Finals MVP expects to be a part of the franchise that he led to the title in 2019.
The Raptors and the Clippers reportedly agreed to a deal that would send Leonard back to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and major draft capital.
But this deal has not been finalized since the Raptors do not want to assume any potential penalties connected to his NBA investigation.
The investigation has been largely centered around Leonard’s reported $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration and his relationship with other companies that are tied to Clippers business interests.
NBA investigators reportedly did not find any evidence that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer secretly funneled sponsor money to Leonard as a way to circumvent the cap.
The league’s focus largely shifted toward the Clippers’ role in introducing Leonard to his apparent sponsors, whether that could violate salary cap rules, as well as whether the organization failed to properly supervise employees.
The Clippers have acknowledged introducing Leonard to companies with existing business relationships with the organization, but have maintained that such introductions are very common and that they did not negotiate or dictate terms in Leonard’s endorsement agreements.
The investigation remains unresolved, which is the key reason Leonard’s move to the Raptors has not been completed.
The Raptors reportedly do not want to finalize the trade deal and then become responsible for any punishment that could come attached to Leonard, and as a result, the deal remains frozen while both sides wait for the NBA’s final findings.
Leonard, meanwhile, has been seen as increasingly comfortable with the idea of returning to Toronto. Reports have already placed him around Raptors-related events, and Jackson’s claim that he has secured a house in the city would only add to that perception that Leonard thinks this move is just a formality.
But there is still significant uncertainty.
The NBA has already disputed reports suggesting the Clippers were effectively cleared, and no final ruling has yet been reached.
Potential penalties could make the situation even more complicated, particularly because the league must also consider any possible pushback from the NBPA if its ruling is viewed as restricting players’ ability to negotiate individual endorsement deals.
Until the investigation concludes, Leonard remains with the Clippers. But if Jackson’s information is accurate, Leonard might already be getting ready for Toronto.
The paperwork might be frozen, but Leonard’s reported next move suggests he believes his Raptors reunion is only a matter of time.