The Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers announced on Thursday that they are putting their agreed-upon Kawhi Leonard trade on hold pending the NBA’s investigation into the two-time NBA champion and Aspiration.
The Raptors noted in their press release that the league informed them they “would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver broke his silence on the unsettled deal during his annual press conference at Summer League in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
​Adam Silver Addresses NBA’s Role in Paused Kawhi Leonard Trade
​Silver and the NBA hired a law firm in September 2025 to dig into the allegations made by investigative journalist Pablo Torre. On “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” Torre claimed that the Clippers funded Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with the now-defunct green banking company Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap and accommodate the veteran forward.
​Despite the ongoing probe, the Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and two second-rounders to LA to reunite with Leonard.
​A few days after the trade was paused, Silver formally weighed in on the unresolved matter.
​”I’m hopeful that it will wrap up this summer. … I just wanna clarify so everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said. “The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. Any possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known. They chose not to live with that uncertainty, but that was well known before the trade was proposed.”
Adam Silver on the Kawhi trade:
“I’m hopeful that it will wrap up this summer. The league did not pause the trade. The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward given that the investigation remained open. The investigation needs to run its course” pic.twitter.com/KHBLFNZA74
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 15, 2026
If the alleged cap circumvention is proven true, the Clippers could face severe penalties like a $7.5 million fine and forfeiture of draft picks.
​Another potential penalty in the Leonard-Aspiration probe is the voiding of the seven-time All-Star’s contract. If Leonard’s $50.3 million deal for the 2026-27 season is nullified, he would become an unrestricted free agent.
​In that scenario, the Clippers would lose out on Ingram, Dick, and the haul of picks Toronto was willing to exchange for Leonard. Losing “The Claw,” too, is a real possibility, as he could distance himself from the controversy and take his talents elsewhere.
​The Raptors’ plan to bring back Leonard could also take a serious blow. Toronto could still sign the 35-year-old superstar in free agency, but it would likely need to trade players first to fit him into the salary cap.
The possible stiff penalties weren’t worth assuming for the Raptors; hence, halting the trade was unsurprising. Both sides are now left with no choice but to await a resolution to the lengthy saga.
