TORONTO – The long-awaited trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors moved closer to reality this week after the NBA concluded its investigation into salary-cap violations involving the Los Angeles Clippers.
NBA spokesperson Tim Frank confirmed on Thursday that the league is simply awaiting formal submission of the trade paperwork from both teams. The deal, which was agreed upon in July, had been placed on hold while league officials examined allegations that the Clippers improperly facilitated off-court income opportunities for Leonard.
On Wednesday, the NBA announced its disciplinary decisions stemming from the investigation. While Leonard himself will not face suspension or contract voiding, the consequences for the Clippers organisation were severe. The team was stripped of five first-round draft picks and handed a $30 million fine. Additionally, owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker received one-year suspensions, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months.
Leonard Avoids Personal Penalties
Despite the findings against the Clippers, the league determined that Leonard would not be personally disciplined beyond a $700,000 fine. The NBA stated that Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, violated circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist with off-court income opportunities.
“I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Robertson himself received a five-year ban from conducting business with NBA teams and their affiliates. The investigation centred on a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a company whose co-founder Joseph Sanberg was later sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding investors of at least $248 million.
Trade Details Finalised
The proposed trade will see the Raptors send several key assets to the Clippers, including unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-round selections in 2030 and 2033, plus a first-round pick swap in 2027. The Clippers will forfeit a first-round pick in each of the next five drafts beginning in 2029 as part of their punishment.
Under NBA rules, teams must formally present an agreed-upon trade to the league office via conference call. The transaction remains incomplete until all conditions are satisfied and the NBA provides written confirmation. However, sources indicate that both organisations are prepared to finalise the deal soon.
Leonard’s Path Back to Toronto
While the trade has yet to be officially completed, Leonard appears to be moving forward with his return to Toronto. The two-time NBA champion was spotted in the city recently for the retirement ceremony of former teammate Kyle Lowry and attended the National Bank Open tennis tournament last month.
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said in his statement.
Leonard originally joined the Raptors before the 2018-19 season in a blockbuster trade that sent popular forward DeMar DeRozan and centre Jakob Poeltl to the San Antonio Spurs. That season, the Los Angeles native led Toronto to its first NBA championship, earning his second Finals MVP award in the process. He subsequently signed a three-year, $103 million contract with the Clippers in free agency.
League Takes Hard Line on Salary Cap Violations
The NBA’s investigation began in September 2025 following reporting by journalist Pablo Torre regarding the Aspiration endorsement deal. League officials determined that the Clippers knowingly sought to help Leonard secure off-court income opportunities and approved business arrangements that violated league rules.
“The investigation revealed that Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and failed to create conditions under which his team followed league rules,” the NBA said in its findings.
The league’s decision sends a strong message about its commitment to maintaining competitive balance and enforcing salary-cap regulations. The penalties against the Clippers represent one of the harshest sanctions in recent NBA history, particularly given the involvement of high-profile ownership and the significant financial stakes involved.
Why it Matters
This resolution clears the path for Leonard’s return to Toronto, where he previously delivered the franchise’s lone NBA championship. His potential comeback adds star power to a Raptors team looking to rebuild momentum, while the NBA’s strict enforcement sends a clear warning to other organisations about circumvention risks. The hefty penalties imposed on the Clippers – including multiple draft picks and millions in fines – demonstrate the league’s willingness to protect competitive integrity, even when it involves prominent figures like Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard. For Canadian basketball fans, Leonard’s likely return represents both a nostalgic reunion with the player who brought glory to Toronto and a reminder of the complex business dealings that increasingly define professional sports.
