Kawhi Leonard Trade in Limbo Amid Clippers Cap Investigation

Well, it was a blockbuster trade, but now it’s on hold as the NBA looks into things a bit.

Until the league is done with an investigation, the Los Angeles Clippers trade for star small forward Kawhi Leonard from the Toronto Raptors is on hold.

The deal, initially agreed to back on June 30, would send Leonard to the Raptors in exchange for star forward Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and one pick swap.

However, neither side wants to assume the risk involved.

The Clippers released a statement to ESPN noting that the deal will only be finalized if Toronto accepts risk of potential penalties.

The Raptors, for their side, declined and elected to wait until the league’s findings.

The league is looking into whether LA attempted to circumvent the cap by channeling the money via an endorsement deal with banking company Aspiration, a company that has now gone bankrupt.

To read more about the holdup and what is at play, here is the full story from Clippers Roundtable writer Jeremy Lambert.

The situation grows as Aspiration had a bigger 23-year, $300 million deal with the franchise in total, with the team owner investing $60 million in them.

Investigators have thus far interviewed Leonard and his uncle/adviser Dennis Robertson.

At present, there’s no timetable for a resolution.

The Clippers feel like they got played and are positioning themselves as victims of fraud. However, they’re confident that they will be cleared with the full picture.

Notably, Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement.

It puts a great deal of uncertainty around the future of a player coming off of his best season yet.