Raptors put Kawhi Leonard trade on hold amid NBA investigation into Clippers

[p]According to ‌the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Raptors[/a], the NBA league office told them they would assume the risk ‌of any potential outcome of the investigation affecting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leonard-kawhi/d4zqZuLO/"]Leonard[/a], ‌who led Toronto to their only championship in 2019 before ‌joining the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-clippers/vPeTYlqm/"]Clippers[/a] a month later.[/p][p][b]"In light of this, ‌we will wait until the league's investigation is complete,"[/b] the Raptors said in a statement.[/p][p][b]"The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back ‌to Toronto and look forward to a ⁠swift resolution for our ‌players, our organisation and our fans."[/b][/p][p]The NBA launched an investigation into ​the Clippers in 2025 following media reports that Leonard was paid by a now-bankrupt environmental firm ​that had close ties to team owner Steve Ballmer as a way to circumvent league rules that restrict the ⁠total amount a team ​can spend on its player payroll.[/p][p]The reports said Leonard had a four-year, $28-million endorsement contract with the firm, but the twice NBA champion is alleged to have provided no work as part of ‌the deal.[/p][p]The Clippers have previously denied that any rules were broken and welcomed the league’s investigation.[/p][image alt="Leonard's stats for the 25/26 NBA regular season" id="54466b74-b982-4246-a288-125b6872db29" credit-line="Flashscore (photo by RONALD MARTINEZ / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP)" guid="86d76d73-3393-410b-b30e-5a0441c523bc" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the investigation into the Clippers was [b]"close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up."[/b][/p][p]Leonard emerged as a star with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio Spurs[/a] and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2014 after leading them to ‌victory over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-heat/CQ7AXnT5/"]Miami Heat[/a].[/p][p]He fell out with the Spurs ​over a leg injury and was traded to the ‌Raptors, where he spent one season and was named NBA Finals MVP for a second time before joining the Clippers.[/p][p]Last week, media reports said the Clippers had agreed to send 35-year-old Leonard back to the ⁠Raptors as part of ⁠a deal that included ‌Toronto All-Star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ingram-brandon/jJ12C7e8/"]Brandon Ingram[/a].[/p]