The Kawhi Leonard trade saga is basically down to a single doomsday scenario. According to Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg, the only thing that could actually kill the deal to send Leonard back to Toronto is if the NBA decides to void his contract entirely.
Lewenberg said the Raptors have been acting like a team that isn’t worried about the league’s investigation into the Clippers’ alleged salary cap violations tied to the Aspiration sponsorship deal. And for the most part, they shouldn’t be. The team is reportedly fine working around any punishment short of having Leonard’s deal erased, including a suspension or fine.
Toronto has basically committed to Leonard, the guy who carried them to their only championship in 2019. And Leonard has made it clear the Raptors are the only team he’d sign with long-term. So this isn’t some half-hearted flirtation. Both sides seem locked in.
The Investigation and What’s at Stake
The NBA has been digging into the Clippers for almost a year now over that Aspiration sponsorship deal, and word is they’re also looking at a second sponsorship arrangement from Leonard’s time in LA. Commissioner Adam Silver said he hopes the investigation wraps up this summer, but Lewenberg indicated there’s no immediate resolution in sight.
Leonard has denied any involvement in whatever went down. Shams Charania recently reported that the worst possible outcomes include the contract being voided, a full season suspension, or a 20-to-40 game ban. Leonard’s camp insists there was no wrongdoing on his part.
What Happens Next
The longer this drags out, the more pressure the league is under to get the call right. But for now, all signs point to Leonard returning to Toronto no matter what the NBA finds — unless the hammer comes down hard enough to wipe his contract off the books entirely. That’s the one thing the Raptors apparently can’t work around.
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