The Toronto Raptors continue to project confidence that their blockbuster trade for Kawhi Leonard will ultimately be completed despite the NBA’s ongoing investigation into the forward’s previous contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, there is no indication that the NBA is close to resolving its investigation, but Toronto has shown little concern that the transaction will collapse. The Raptors’ stance remains that only one outcome—a voiding of Leonard’s contract—would derail the deal, and league observers consider that scenario highly unlikely.
“Raptors continue to talk/act like a team that’s unworried,” Lewenberg reported on Tuesday. “Sense is the only thing that would jeopardize the trade is the unlikely scenario where Kawhi’s contract is voided. Any other possible penalty, including suspension, is something they could work around.”
The trade, agreed to on June 30, would send Leonard back to Toronto, where he led the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2019. In exchange, the Clippers would receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round selections.
Although the deal remains unofficial, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has clarified that the league did not block the trade. Instead, both organizations voluntarily agreed to wait until the investigation concludes because the Raptors did not want to assume any potential contractual risk associated with Leonard.
The investigation centers on a 2021 endorsement agreement between Leonard and Aspiration, a now-bankrupt financial technology company in which Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had invested. The NBA is examining whether the arrangement improperly provided Leonard with compensation outside his playing contract, potentially violating the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Lewenberg outlined several reasons why league executives do not expect Leonard’s contract to be voided.
First, the contract under investigation was signed in 2021 and expired more than a year ago. Leonard’s current contract, signed with the Clippers in 2024, has not been reported to be part of the investigation.
Second, even if investigators determine Leonard requested benefits similar to those previously reported during his 2019 free agency with Toronto, responsibility would largely fall on the Clippers if the organization approved any impermissible arrangements.
“If the Clips (and by extension Kawhi) are found guilty, they’ll take the brunt of the penalty,” Lewenberg noted Wednesday.
Potential penalties reportedly range from fines and the forfeiture of draft picks to suspensions, although the most severe outcome—a voided contract—has consistently been viewed as the least likely.
From a basketball standpoint, Toronto has every reason to remain patient. Leonard is coming off one of his best offensive seasons, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.5% from the field, 38.7% from three-point range and 89.2% at the free-throw line across 65 games. He earned All-Star honors and was selected to the All-NBA Second Team while finishing seventh in MVP voting.
The Raptors finished 46-36 last season, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference before losing a seven-game first-round series to Cleveland. Brandon Ingram led the team with 21.5 points per game, while Scottie Barnes averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, earning his second All-Star selection and a place on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
