NBA addresses Kawhi Leonard trade drama amid ongoing investigation

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has addressed concerns surrounding the Kawhi Leonard trade that has suddenly been put on ice.

The Los Angeles Clippers issued a statement last week indicating that the trade that was supposed to send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors will not be completed until the NBA wraps up its investigation into LAC’s alleged salary cap circumvention.

Many assumed the NBA forced the Raptors and Clippers to press pause on the deal. Silver clarified Tuesday that the decision was purely made by Toronto, without league intervention.

“I just want to clarify, so that everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said during his press conference. “The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. Any possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known, and so they chose not to live with that uncertainty. … The investigation needs to run its course”

Silver added that there was no reason to believe trading Leonard would have altered the NBA’s final decision once the investigation finally concluded. He asserted that the Raptors and Clippers must have known that, but still opted to engage in a deal centered around Leonard.

Silver remained noncommittal about a final date to expect a resolution, only indicating that he’s “hopeful” that the league will decide before the end of summer.

According to reports, the NBA has since expanded its investigation to include a different Leonard endorsement deal apart from the one with Aspiration.