Raptors Put Kawhi Leonard Trade On Hold Until The Nba Probe Into The Clippers Concludes

The Toronto Raptors person put nan brakes connected acquiring Kawhi Leonard from nan Clippers, announcing Thursday that nan waste and acquisition is connected clasp until the NBA investigation into whether nan Clippers circumvented net headdress rules is complete.

“The NBA convention agency informed america that arsenic a consequence of nan ongoing investigation involving nan Clippers, we would presume nan consequence of immoderate imaginable result of nan investigation impacting Kawhi,” nan Raptors said. “In ray of this, we will hold until nan league’s investigation is complete.”

The waste and acquisition sent Leonard to Toronto for guardant Brandon Ingram, shooting defender Gradey Dick, 2 first-round draught picks, a prime switch and 2 second-round picks. Leonard has spent nan past 7 seasons pinch nan Clippers aft starring nan Raptors to nan 2019 NBA championship.

The probe was triggered successful September erstwhile nan “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast aired an section detailing a statement Leonard received from Aspiration, a self-described “socially-conscious and sustainable banking services and finance products” firm. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer invested $60 cardinal successful nan now-defunct institution that successful move agreed to salary Leonard $28 cardinal for endorsements he ne'er fulfilled.

The investigation is being conducted by Wachtell Lipton, a high-powered New York rule patient nan NBA has often utilized erstwhile attempting to find off-the-court wrongdoing by squad owners, players aliases referees. There is nary timetable for its conclusion, and nan convention had nary remark Thursday.

Ballmer invested $50 cardinal successful Aspiration successful September 2021. A period later, nan Clippers announced a $300-million sponsorship woody pinch nan company. Ballmer astir granted Aspiration naming rights to nan team’s caller $2-billion venue arsenic well, but alternatively chose financial services patient Intuit.

Two years later erstwhile Aspiration was experiencing terrible financial difficulties, Ballmer made an further $10 cardinal finance and Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong — Ballmer’s erstwhile assemblage roommate — invested $1.99 cardinal successful Aspiration 9 days earlier Leonard received a $1.75 cardinal costs from nan company. Leonard yet was paid $21 cardinal of nan $28 cardinal agreed upon successful his statement pinch Aspiration.

Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals complete six seasons pinch nan Clippers and was selected to 4 All-Star teams, 4 All-NBA teams and 2 All-Defensive teams while successful L.A. Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points while playing 65 games past season.

“The Raptors stay eager to bring Kawhi backmost to Toronto and look guardant to a swift solution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” nan Raptors said.