Kawhi Leonard trade put on hold until NBA probe

The Toronto Raptors put the brakes on buying Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers, asserting Thursday that the trade is on hold until the NBA investigation into whether or not the Clippers circumvented wage cap guidelines is full.

“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.”

The groups last month finalized a trade to ship Leonard to Toronto for ahead Brandon Ingram, taking pictures guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, a decide swap and two second-round picks. Leonard spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers after main the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship.

The probe was triggered in September when the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast aired an episode detailing a contract Leonard acquired from Aspiration, a self-described “socially-conscious and sustainable banking services and investment products” firm. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer invested $60 million in the now-defunct company that in flip agreed to pay Leonard $28 million for endorsements he allegedly never fulfilled.

The investigation is being carried out by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a high-powered New York law firm the NBA ceaselessly makes use of when attempting to decide off-the-court wrongdoing by staff homeowners, gamers or referees. There is no timetable for its conclusion, and the league had no remark Thursday.

However, last month NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he communicated to Wachtell Lipton that the investigation needed to conclude in a well timed fashion.

“Ultimately we’re paying their bills, but they are doing the work independent of the league office, and my instruction to them is we can’t be investigating forever, but at some point, we have to wrap it up,” Silver said June 3. “But at the same time, the most important thing is that we get it right.

“I think it’s clear they’re far along. But I think we’re close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up because you also need finality. Their team has to understand what the situation is they’re going to be operating under, and so do the other 29 teams.”

Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in September 2021. A month later, the Clippers announced a $300-million sponsorship deal with the company. Ballmer practically granted Aspiration naming rights to the staff’s new $2-billion enviornment, but instead selected financial providers firm Intuit.

Two years later when Aspiration was experiencing extreme financial difficulties, Ballmer made an further $10-million investment, and Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong — Ballmer’s former faculty roommate — invested $1.99 million in Aspiration 9 days before Leonard acquired a $1.75-million fee from the company. Leonard was paid $21 million of the $28 million agreed upon in his contract with Aspiration.

Players are allowed to have endorsement and business offers, but at issue is whether or not the Clippers participated in arranging the aspect deal past merely introducing Aspiration executives to Leonard. Doing so can be a violation of Article 13 of the NBA collective bargaining settlement, punishable by a $7.5-million high quality, the loss of a first-round draft decide and the voiding of Leonard’s contract.

It is unclear whether or not Leonard may very well be punished. He has one 12 months remaining on a three-year, $149-million contract. He is owed a base wage of $50.3 million for next season.

The Clippers again denied any wrongdoing Thursday in a assertion.

“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,” the Clippers said. “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.”

Leonard, a seven-time All-NBA ahead, averaged 25.1 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals over six seasons with the Clippers; he sat out 2021-22 because of an injury. Leonard performed on championship groups with the Raptors and San Antonio Spurs, but the Clippers never have reached the NBA Finals.

He averaged a career-high 27.9 factors while taking part in 65 video games last season, and Raptors followers welcomed his return.

“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.