West Notes: Clippers, investigation, Warriors, Jimmy Butler, Blazers

Clippers

The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers could stretch well into 2026, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Baxter Holmes.

The league hired law firm Wachtell Lipton, Rosen & Katz to examine whether the Clippers violated salary cap rules by allegedly paying Leonard through a separate “no-show” endorsement deal with the green-bank company Aspiration.

Sources told ESPN the probe could take “months,” possibly extending beyond the 2026 playoffs.

On the court, 2023 first-round pick Kobe Brown is embracing his role on a veteran-heavy roster. Speaking with Janis Carr of The Orange County Register, Brown said he feels “way better” as a player entering his second full season but understands minutes might be hard to come by.

“If the team’s winning, I’m winning,” Brown said. “I don’t look at it as a negative thing. I just do my job.”

Warriors

After ESPN’s Kevin Pelton projected the Warriors to win 56 games — second-most in the NBA — colleague Zach Kram broke down why Golden State may be better than expected.

Kram pointed to Al Horford’s fit, the Warriors’ veteran balance, and the fact that they have fewer glaring concerns than other top Western Conference contenders.

In other news, Jimmy Butler will sit out Tuesday’s preseason game against the Blazers with an ankle sprain, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. The injury isn’t considered serious, and head coach Steve Kerr expects Butler to return for Friday’s preseason finale against the Clippers.

Blazers

A legal battle surrounding the Trail Blazers’ impending sale has been dropped, clearing the way for Tom Dundon’s ownership group to move forward, reports Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

RAJ Sports, run by the Bhatal family, withdrew its lawsuit against the Cherng family — owners of Panda Express and minority investors in Dundon’s group — after the two sides reached an out-of-court resolution.

“We are pleased to have reached a resolution out of court which we believe recognizes our position while also preserving the future of basketball in Portland,” RAJ said in a statement shared via Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.

Dundon reportedly played a key role in brokering peace between the parties. The dropped lawsuit removes the final obstacle to the Blazers’ sale and sets the stage for the WNBA’s Portland Fire to debut alongside the franchise at Moda Center next spring.