![\"Kawhi](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/leonard0904b.jpg\")
Getty\nClippers<\/p>\n
Getty
\nClippers<\/p>\n
The NBA\u2019s investigation into Kawhi Leonard<\/a> and the Clippers could stretch well into 2026, according to ESPN\u2019s Bobby Marks and Baxter Holmes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The league hired law firm Wachtell Lipton, Rosen & Katz to examine whether the Clippers violated salary cap rules by allegedly paying Leonard through a separate \u201cno-show\u201d endorsement deal with the green-bank company Aspiration.<\/p>\n Sources told ESPN<\/a> the probe could take \u201cmonths,\u201d possibly extending beyond the 2026 playoffs.<\/p>\n On the court, 2023 first-round pick Kobe Brown<\/a> is embracing his role on a veteran-heavy roster. Speaking with Janis Carr of The Orange County Register<\/a>, Brown said he feels \u201cway better\u201d as a player entering his second full season but understands minutes might be hard to come by.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the team\u2019s winning, I\u2019m winning,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI don\u2019t look at it as a negative thing. I just do my job.\u201d<\/p>\n Warriors<\/p>\n After ESPN\u2019s Kevin Pelton<\/a> projected the Warriors to win 56 games \u2014 second-most in the NBA \u2014 colleague Zach Kram<\/a> broke down why Golden State may be better than expected.<\/p>\n Kram pointed to Al Horford<\/a>\u2019s fit, the Warriors\u2019 veteran balance, and the fact that they have fewer glaring concerns than other top Western Conference contenders.<\/p>\n In other news, Jimmy Butler<\/a> will sit out Tuesday\u2019s preseason game against the Blazers with an ankle sprain, per ESPN\u2019s Anthony Slater<\/a>. The injury isn\u2019t considered serious, and head coach Steve Kerr<\/a> expects Butler to return for Friday\u2019s preseason finale against the Clippers.<\/p>\n Blazers<\/p>\n A legal battle surrounding the Trail Blazers\u2019 impending sale<\/a> has been dropped, clearing the way for Tom Dundon\u2019s ownership group to move forward, reports Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n RAJ Sports, run by the Bhatal family, withdrew its lawsuit against the Cherng family \u2014 owners of Panda Express and minority investors in Dundon\u2019s group \u2014 after the two sides reached an out-of-court resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are pleased to have reached a resolution out of court which we believe recognizes our position while also preserving the future of basketball in Portland,\u201d RAJ said in a statement shared via Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dundon reportedly played a key role in brokering peace between the parties. The dropped lawsuit removes the final obstacle to the Blazers\u2019 sale and sets the stage for the WNBA\u2019s Portland Fire to debut alongside the franchise at Moda Center next spring.<\/p>\n Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?<\/p>\n Be sure to follow Hoops Wire<\/a> on TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0and FACEBOOK<\/a>\u00a0for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!<\/p>\n