What happened: In 2019, the Clippers looked into buying the Nike-held rights to Kawhi Leonard's "Klaw" logo during free agency, a move that would have run into NBA cap-circumvention rules. Leonard had left Nike for New Balance in 2018 and sued Nike in June 2019 over ownership of the mark.

Why it matters: The episode now sits against the NBA's Sept. 2 finding that the Clippers committed multiple salary-cap circumvention violations tied to off-court income opportunities. The penalties included five forfeited first-round picks, a $30 million fine and yearlong suspensions for Steve Ballmer and Gillian Zucker.

What to watch: The Clippers still have trade-processing issues tied to league approval, with prior paperwork unresolved as of Sept. 8. Any further league or legal action would add pressure before the 2026-27 season.