What happened: Adam Silver clarified that the league office did not mandate a freeze on the transaction sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. The organizations involved opted independently to withhold final approval while the NBA conducts a salary cap circumvention inquiry. Toronto previously balked at completing the deal due to potential penalty risks tied to the investigation.

Why it matters: Potential league discipline for cap circumvention could result in suspensions spanning 20 to 40 games or an entire season if violations are uncovered. Toronto's roster flexibility and salary cap structure remain locked until the inquiry reaches a conclusion. A resolution before the 2026-27 training camps is necessary for both franchises to finalize their rotations for the upcoming season.

What to watch: League investigators will continue reviewing transaction details to determine whether any salary cap violations occurred. Toronto must decide whether to proceed with the transaction once Silver issues final findings later this summer.