Kawhi Leonard Trade on Hold Pending NBA Clippers Probe

A blockbuster trade to return star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors has been put on hold by an ongoing NBA investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, both teams announced on Thursday, July 9. The deal, agreed to in principle on June 30, cannot be finalized until the league's probe into alleged salary cap circumvention is complete.

The investigation, which has been underway for ten months, centers on allegations first reported last year that the Clippers funneled additional money to Leonard through a no-show endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt financial technology company Aspiration. The NBA hired an outside law firm to investigate the claims, which involve the company's ties to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard.

In statements released Thursday, both franchises explained the delay. The Clippers stated they were informed the trade could only proceed if the Raptors' ownership assumed the risk of any potential penalties from the investigation that might impact Leonard's contract. The Raptors, in their own statement, confirmed this condition, saying they were told by the league office they would "assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation...