The Toronto Raptors have struck a deal for superstar forward Kawhi Leonard for the second time.
The Raptors acquired the two-time champion for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round swap, and two second-round picks.
The NBA World Reacts to Investigation Into Kawhi Leonard, Holding Up Clippers-Raptors Deal
With the Clippers getting younger and the Raptors trying to accelerate their timeline, it seemed like a good deal for both teams. But the deal is not yet complete.
Leonard has been at the center of controversy as the Clippers are being investigated over allegations that Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer used a fraudulent green banking company to give $28 million to star player Kawhi Leonard as a “no-show” endorsement. The company is known as Aspiration.
Not only could that trade create trouble for the Clippers, but according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, it is also delaying the trade.
“The Los Angeles Clippers-Toronto Raptors trade centered on Kawhi Leonard will not be complete until the NBA investigation into the Clippers is over,” reports Charania, who included the Clippers’ statement about the situation.
The Clippers continue to deny any wrongdoing.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration,” the statement reads. “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.”
The NBA world reacted to this news as it has to much of the league’s news lately – poorly.
Raptors’ content creator RaptorsShaq has some choice words for the NBA.
“So we have to wait until the investigation is completed or else we have to assume the risk of a potential Kawhi penalty?” they asked. “This league is a joke.”
So we have to wait until the investigation is completed or else we have to assume the risk of a potential Kawhi penalty?
this league is a joke https://t.co/m28EMOHUfZ
— Stevie (@RaptorsShaq) July 9, 2026
William Lou of the Hello and Welcome Pod called the holdup “crazy.”
“This is crazy just let the trade happen,” Lou wrote. “Clippers gotta take the punishment no matter what since they’re the ones who circumvented the cap.”
This is crazy just let the trade happen. Clippers gotta take the punishment no matter what since they’re the ones who circumvented the cap. https://t.co/U4MO2aKpme
— William Lou (@william_lou) July 9, 2026
The only thing that may be more insane, according to Three_Cone, is if the deal is, in fact, rescinded.
“The Kawhi trade getting rescinded would be absolutely insane,” Cone wrote.
The Clippers have reportedly been aggressively pursuing Nuggets’ free agent Peyton Watson, but that move now sits alongside a bigger concern, according to Ryan Blackburn.
“The Clippers have bigger problems than a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade lol,” Blackburn, who covers the Nuggets for Mile High Sports and Locked On Nuggets, posted on X.
The Clippers have bigger problems than a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade lol https://t.co/p505EMXdlq
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) July 9, 2026
Popular NBA video maker Legend of Winning believes the holdup stems from the NBA having something on the Clippers.
“OH THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING…,” they wrote. “So Kawhi can’t be traded until the NBA completes the Aspiration investigation. I have a hunch that the only reason why this is still an obstacle this deep into the scandal is if the NBA has some credible information on Kawhi and Ballmer.”
It’s an interesting theory that could hold some weight, and it really makes you wonder what kind of decision the league will eventually make.
If the NBA proves that Ballmer, Leonard, and the Clippers knowingly circumvented the salary cap, the league could enforce harsh penalties on the Clippers, including heavy fines and the potential forfeiture of future draft picks.
Whether or not the NBA has any reason to enforce the penalties remains to be seen, and the trade remains tied to the investigation.
