NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the league’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals early in June. Silver said that the probe, which started in September 2025, was “far along.”
A little over a month later, Silver gave an update on that investigation.
Adam Silver Addresses Timeline for Ongoing Kawhi Leonard Investigation
The Leonard-Aspiration circus took a different turn last week when the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers’ trade involving the two-time NBA Finals MVP was put on hold.
According to multiple reports, the deal may not go through depending on the outcome of the investigation.
On Tuesday, Silver was at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas for a meeting with the Board of Governors. During his press conference, he shared more information on the probe.
“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,” Silver said.
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
About 10 months ago, the NBA began investigating a report by sports journalist Pablo Torre, who alleged on his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” show that Leonard signed a $28 million no-show deal with Aspiration in 2022.
The Clippers were lumped into the investigation for their alleged role in funding Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap for Leonard. Team governor Steve Ballmer welcomed the inquiry and said that the Clippers’ transactions with the seven-time All-Star were all aboveboard.
As the investigation went on, the Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a first-round swap.
The trade has since been put on hold after the NBA reportedly told the Raptors they would receive part of any potential punishment for Leonard.
As the Leonard-Aspiration issue lingers, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov gave context to the extended time the NBA has taken in the Leonard-Aspiration investigation.
“Not only has Wachtell Lipton, the league’s go-to law firm hired to conduct the inquiry, inspected if the Clippers circumvented the NBA salary cap by facilitating a sponsorship deal for Leonard with Aspiration, it has also looked into whether the Clippers improperly covered expenses for Leonard but were not reimbursed for them, those sources said. And the firm has examined if Leonard had a previously unreported endorsement deal with another company, those sources said,” Vorkunov wrote.
When Silver spoke to the media before the 2026 NBA Finals, he wanted the investigation’s results to be released as soon as possible. The executive said that the Clippers and every team should know their “operating parameters” before players can exercise or decline their options, and free agency starts.
If Silver’s projection holds true, Leonard, the Clippers, and the Raptors should know where they stand in their previously agreed-upon trade.
