The Los Angeles Clippers are one of several teams interested in working with the Denver Nuggets to put together a sign-and-trade deal for Peyton Watson after the Denver wing had a breakout season and looking at the moves that the Clippers have made since the trade deadline last season, picking up Watson would be perfectly in line for their mission.

There are. a number of issues working against the Clippers though, beyond the interest that Watson is drawing from other teams or the Nuggets themselves, that being a problem that has haunted the Clippers since before last season even began. 

The NBA's ongoing investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard in regard to possible salary cap circumvention through a sponsorship deal with the now-defunct Aspiration has been holding the Clippers' back throughout the offseason, especially because the investigation has put a hold on the Clippers' attempted trade of Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. 

With that trade on hold, the Clippers now have to a deal with a certain level of uncertainty regarding their roster. Should the investigation carry on into next season, the Clippers will be forced to keep Leonard on the roster, but should it finish in time for next season, then the trade will presumably still go through and the Clippers will welcome Grady Dick and Brandon Ingram to the team in exchange for Leonard. 

But not knowing what's going to happen with one of their biggest players on the roster is a big issue for the Clippers and it's an issue that is likely keeping them from pursuing Watson as aggressively as they'd like to. 

“One of the teams that has been at the forefront of these conversations for Peyton Watson, the Los Angeles Clippers, can’t really do anything because of the Kawhi Leonard investigation," Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints said. "Their cap figures and everything there is being held up."

Without knowing what their financial situation is going to be and who exactly will be on their roster is a big issue for Los Angeles and it's likely standing in the way of them being able to confidently take on whatever contract Watson ends up with or comfortably giving up particular players without knowing if those players will be necessary for the roster next season. 

This uncertainty is the most vexing aspect of the NBA's ongoing investigation, and one of the biggest reasons why the investigation is drawing on so long is such an issue. 

The Clippers have been aggressive in their pursuit of a variety of players, but trying to keep up that aggression without knowing exactly what's going to unfold with Leonard, whether he'll be traded, if his contract is going to be voided or what kind of penalties the team will face is simply not tenable, and it may cost them to chance to bring in Watson.