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NBA·TRADE·September 8, 2026 04:16 PM ET

Front office shakeup, not talks, holding up Leonard-to-Raptors deal

Clippers reworking structure after Ballmer, Frank suspensions

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 91 min read
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What happened: Kawhi Leonard's trade to the Raptors remains unfinalized, with Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reporting the Clippers are still reorganizing their front office following NBA suspensions handed to owner Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank. The reorganization, not disagreement over trade terms, is cited as the leading obstacle to closing the deal.

Why it matters: The delay compounds a stretch of turmoil for the Clippers, who separately forfeited five first-round picks through 2033 as part of the league's penalties. With Sept. 28 media day approaching, the front-office rebuild adds a new variable to a trade that had already cleared one hurdle when the NBA ruled Leonard would not face a game suspension.

What to watch: Watch whether the Clippers finalize a new front-office structure before the Sept. 28 media day, the next deadline pressure point for completing the trade.

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NBATradeLa ClippersToronto RaptorsKawhi Leonard
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