NBA inquiry into Leonard trade widens to include expense probes and undisclosed deals
The Toronto Raptors’ acquisition of Kawhi Leonard remains suspended as the league’s probe expands beyond the defunct Aspiration sponsorship to examine improper expense coverage and potential second endorsement agreements.
The National Basketball Association’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention has expanded significantly in scope, casting further uncertainty over the high-profile trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed on Tuesday that the inquiry, which commenced 10 months ago, is expected to conclude before the start of the next season.
The investigation, conducted by the law firm Wachtell Lipton, was initially centred on a no-show sponsorship deal between Leonard and the now-defunct carbon credits company Aspiration. However, reports indicate the probe has grown to include an examination of whether the Clippers improperly covered expenses for Leonard without reimbursement, as well as whether the player held a previously unreported endorsement deal with a separate entity.
Silver provided the updated timeline following the NBA Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas. “I would say this can be wrapped up -- and needs to be wrapped up -- before next season,” Silver stated. The delay has left the trade between the Clippers and the Raptors in limbo, with the league informing Toronto that it would assume the risk of any potential penalties levied against Leonard pending the outcome.
Evidence gathered during the inquiry includes images of a scrapped marketing campaign that cast Leonard as a character resembling Marvel’s Groot, linking his interest in comics to Aspiration’s pledge to plant trees. A former Aspiration employee told The Athletic they were instructed to “stop thinking about Kawhi, this feels like a dead end,” highlighting the internal challenges surrounding the partnership.
The Los Angeles Clippers have stated they have “fully cooperated” with the inquiry, noting they participated in dozens of interviews, provided tens of thousands of documents, and facilitated staff access. The team expressed confidence that the trade would be finalised once the investigation is complete, though the Raptors remain on hold, bearing the financial and competitive risk of the league’s findings.
