07/09/26 02:41:00
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07/09 14:40 CDT Raptors and Clippers put trade for Kawhi Leonard on hold,
pending end of NBA investigation
Raptors and Clippers put trade for Kawhi Leonard on hold, pending end of NBA
investigation
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Kawhi Leonard's trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold pending the outcome of
the NBA's investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented
salary cap rules, the teams announced Thursday.
It does not necessarily mean that the trade is off. The Raptors said they still
want Leonard, and the Clippers, in a statement sent to multiple outlets
including The Associated Press, again insisted that they are not guilty of any
wrongdoing related to an endorsement contract between Leonard and a
now-bankrupt California-based digital bank that touted itself as
environmentally friendly.
"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 light of
this, we will wait until the league's investigation is complete."
There is no timetable for the conclusion of the NBA's probe, which is being
performed by outside counsel. The league had no immediate comment Thursday,
though Commissioner Adam Silver said in recent weeks that he'd like to see a
conclusion.
"My instruction to them is we can't be investigating forever. At some point you
have to wrap it up," Silver said last month at the NBA Finals. "But at the same
time, the most important thing is that we get it right."
The NBA opened an investigation back in September into whether a $28 million
endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC --- a
company that filed for bankruptcy in 2025 --- broke league rules, following a
report by journalist Pablo Torre. Last month, Aspiration co-founder Joseph
Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to
defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration," the
Clippers said Thursday in a statement. "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.
"We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our
team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose
futures remain affected while this process continues. We remain confident that,
when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm
exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are
accused of doing."
For its part, Toronto reaffirmed that it still wants to acquire Leonard.
"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 Raptors
said.
The Raptors and Clippers struck a deal on June 30 on a trade that would send
Leonard back to the city that helped win the 2019 NBA championship.
The Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft
picks, two second-round picks and pick swaps to the Clippers for Leonard ---
who spent one season in Toronto, and that was the year the Raptors won their
lone title.
He turned 35 earlier this month but is coming off the highest-scoring season of
his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.
Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA
champion (also winning in 2014 with San Antonio) and is generally considered
one of the game's top defensive players.
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