NBA Salary Probe
Adam Silver confirms ongoing NBA investigation into Clippers' alleged Kawhi Leonard salary perks.
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Nearly one year after salary-cap circumvention allegations rocked the NBA, the Toronto Raptors are still waiting to complete a trade for Kawhi Leonard. The Los Angeles Clippers allegedly gave Leonard a significant perk on top of his four-year, $176-million contract — a potential violation that has frozen the deal in place. Toronto Sun reported the NBA launched an investigation shortly after the story broke, and that probe remains open today.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed reporters in Las Vegas following a league board of governors meeting. He confirmed the investigation is still active. Because the outcome could affect Leonard's contract or his status as a player, the league will not move forward with the trade until the review is complete.
What the Clippers Allegedly Did for Kawhi Leonard
The allegations center on the Clippers going beyond Leonard's official contract to benefit him financially. National Post reported that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer allegedly defrauded Leonard and helped arrange a sponsorship deal for him with a company called Aspiration. If true, that would count as money paid outside the salary cap — which is against NBA rules.
The NBA has a salary cap to keep spending fair across all teams. When a team secretly pays a player extra — in cash, goods, or deals — it gives that team an unfair edge. That is called circumvention. The alleged perk Leonard received could be treated as hidden pay, which would be a serious violation.
Silver Says League Will Not Rush the Investigation
Commissioner Adam Silver was clear: the NBA is not pausing the trade as a punishment. The league simply needs to know the full picture before it can approve any transaction. If Leonard's contract is found to be tainted, its value or terms could change — and that changes everything about the trade.
Silver did not give a timeline for when the investigation will end. The Sudbury Star noted that the probe has now stretched close to a full year with no public resolution. That open-ended wait has left the Raptors in a difficult position, unable to plan around a player who is technically not yet theirs.
Raptors Left in Limbo as Season Planning Stalls
Toronto agreed to take Leonard back — he won a championship with the Raptors in 2019 — but the team cannot officially add him to its roster while the investigation is open. Mitchell Advocate reported the allegations first surfaced nearly a year ago, meaning the Raptors have spent most of a full year in uncertainty over one of their biggest potential moves.
Leonard has also not played recently due to injury, adding another layer of uncertainty. The Raptors have had to build their roster without knowing whether a star player will be available to them. Until Silver's office closes its investigation and rules on the case, the trade — and Toronto's roster plans — remain on hold.
What Happens Next Depends on the NBA's Ruling
If the NBA finds the Clippers broke the rules, the league could void or alter parts of Leonard's contract. It could also fine or strip draft picks from Los Angeles. Any of those outcomes would affect the terms of the trade Toronto is waiting on. Recorder noted the case is one of the most complex circumvention investigations the league has faced in recent memory.
For now, both sides wait. The Clippers face potential punishment. The Raptors face uncertainty. And Leonard — who has not played a full season in years — remains caught in the middle of a league investigation with no clear end date in sight.
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