Kawhi Leonard Clippers Investigation: Latest NBA Update, Raptors Deal and What Happens Next

           

The latest turn in the Kawhi Leonard saga brings the NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, and Toronto Raptors back into view as well.

The NBA has been spending months investigating whether the Clippers or people affiliated with the team abused sponsorship agreements for Leonard counter to the league's salary-cap regime. Leonard's stature as a star player has drawn interest to the investigation. His possible trade to the Toronto Raptors has been delayed while the NBA looks into the situation.

But this has been complicated by a new report.

Reuters: The investigations showed no signs that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was directing any money to Leonard through sponsors of the team in an attempt to circumvent salary caps, according to ESPN's reporting on what people briefed on the investigations say. However, the NBA disputes portions of that report, calling it " filled with inaccuracies. The league insisted its investigation isn't over.

Leonard has yet to be cleared by the NBA. No shipping yet final outcome.

What is the investigation by the NBA regarding?

The heat of this controversy is all about a sponsorship relation of Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a green-banking firm that subsequently went bankrupt.

The NBA launched its investigation following allegations that Leonard had inappropriately accepted a $28 million endorsement deal from Aspiration. The league sought to see if the deal was ruled to have violated NBA rules on salary-cap circumvention.

On the one hand, NBA teams operate within specific guidelines as to how they may compensate their players. You can't just change the rules to give a player money, and teams aren't allowed to find another way around that.

This is thus not just about whether Leonard had a sponsorship deal. The NBA reviewed L.A.'s deal with Leonard alongside Aspiration and the Clippers to determine whether it raised any flags under league rules.

The Clippers have denied wrongdoing. Supporters have argued that such introductions of players to team sponsors are a part and parcel of professional sports.

What Did the Latest Report Say?

This development is the result of an ESPN report that NBA investigators had discovered no evidence indicating Clippers owner Steve Ballmer directly channeled money through Clippers sponsors to deliver Leonard a monetary benefit specifically to circumvent salary cap laws.

Now, according to ESPN, the NBA's interest was not in Leonard's line of questioning from his introduction to Clippers sponsors but rather regarding whether the Clippers broke salary-cap rules or conspired on pay-cap circumvention. The probe also reportedly spread beyond Aspiration to other companies that did business with the Clippers.

The report first seemed to key in on the news of Leonard and the Clippers.

However, the NBA countered that notion almost immediately.

The league dismissed ESPN's article, noting that there were inaccuracies within it, and made sure to reiterate that the true determination of final results will not be known until after the investigation is done.

This distinction is important.

The news does not mean that the NBA has fully cleared Leonard or the Clippers of wrongdoing.

It means -- if a report based on unnamed sources with the investigation is to be believed -- that investigators have ruled out one type of alleged wrongdoing while NBA officials say the larger probe remains open.

Have the San Antonio Spurs Cleared Kawhi Leonard?

Not.

And this is likely the part for fans who are trying to find out what has occurred.

The NBA did not announce a decision. While releasing the statement, league officials told ESPN the outcome of the investigation "will not be known until the matter is resolved."

So headlines declaring "Kawhi Leonard cleared" go beyond what is currently confirmed by the NBA.

Allegations that Steve Ballmer channeled money to Leonard through sponsors to evade the salary cap have therefore yet to be proven, even if they are being considered as part of a wider NBA investigation.

That raises some questions, such as whether the league can unearth any other sort of rules violation tied to Clippers conduct.

Why Is Toronto Raptors Deal Paused?

The investigation has also impacted Leonard's basketball future.

Leonard was then traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Raptors said in a statement that the deal will remain on hold until the NBA's investigation is finished.

The Raptors did not want to complete the transaction while the league continued investigating factors that could impact either Leonard or the deal.

That creates a situation.

Counter: Toronto first tried to bring Leonard after his playoff success with the franchise, but has instead been waiting for news on what kind of punishment will be served so the team can move ahead.

So the latest reports could be a positive for Raptors fans. The deal remains subject to the investigation's conclusion.

How Will the Raptors Deal Shake Out Now?

This latest development could see the situation nearing a resolution. The definitive answer is still not in.

Assuming NBA investigators determine that Leonard suffered no wrongdoing impacting the star, or the transaction Toronto is intent on going through with implementing a deal could be on the horizon.

Assuming it was a breach, the league would investigate what type of violation specifically.

Of course, we don't know what the outcome might be until the investigation is formally concluded — consequences could potentially include penalties in connection with the Clippers.

A wait is also advisable for any team looking to acquire him, and it certainly seems that the Raptors understand this. Toronto opted to wait for the league's findings rather than risk an investigation.

Then, why is this investigation not wrapping up sooner?

The investigation has been ongoing for 11 months, making it one of the highest-profile NBA investigations in years.

The case has raised issues regarding sponsorship agreements, some third-party companies, and the links between those deals and the Clippers franchise.

Initial reports have even indicated the process could last until 2027 if the league and other parties cannot find common ground on findings or potential punishment.

New reporting, however, shows the investigation might be nearing completion.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has called for the matter to be resolved ahead of the start of the season in previous comments.

It's a timeline that is especially important for Toronto, which wants to have clarity as it maps out its future plans with Leonard.

What Does This Mean for Kawhi Leonard?

And for Leonard himself, the immediate situation is still up in the air.

The recent reporting may be good news from the NBA: investigators have not developed evidence that Ballmer directed money to Leonard via sponsors in a way calculated to evade salary cap rules, although this is a case the league has not completed.

This keeps Leonard tethered to an investigation that could influence his ability to move to Toronto.

From a basketball standpoint, the scenario is particularly telling because Leonard just finished a season. The 35-year-old finished eighth in MVP voting, played 65 games this season, and averaged 27.9 points per game, according to Reuters.

Obviously, the Raptors would rather know where the NBA winds up before they make such a deal.

What Could Happen Next?

There are possible steps.

1. The NBA finishes its investigation

Now that is the development everyone has been waiting for.

If any NBA rules were broken, during or after the investigation, then the league should clarify all issues once the investigation is over.

2. The Raptors and Clippers finish off the trade

The certainty of the final findings would resolve an issue with the transaction that Toronto might not face but could over the issues of their own plans involving Leonard.

3. The NBA imposes a penalty

The Clippers could be punished if the league finds that there was a violation. The precise punishment would depend on the findings.

4. The situation remains unresolved longer

The NBA has not yet provided a verdict, although the case appears to be nearing its end following recent developments. Until that happens, doubt surrounds Leonard's condition.

Final Thoughts

Kawhi Leonard -- Clippers investigation: Both sidesteps are anything, but straight. This latest development can be simply summarised.

According to an ESPN report, investigators found no indication that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used team sponsors to funnel money to Leonard as a means of dodging the NBA's salary cap. However, various parts of that report were disputed by the NBA. The investigation hasn't closed officially, he said.

That also means that Leonard has not received the green light to play. The most recent reporting could still amount to a win for the player, the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors.

The biggest question now for Toronto is when the NBA will officially complete its probe. The Leonard deal to the Raptors is awaiting the end of the league's work.

Fans should be careful with headlines saying the case is done, not until results come from the NBA announcement.

The story for now remains one of those off-court stories in the NBA— with the next alternative update (from the group) on Kawhi Leonard's status expected in that window, it'll decide if he's coming back to pursue Toronto or a formative dude shoots at Vanderbilt.