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NBA·TRADE·July 10, 2026 12:35 PM ET

NBA pause on Kawhi Leonard trade does not signal severe discipline

Clippers and Raptors intend to keep original terms.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 101 min read
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What happened: Toronto paused the Kawhi Leonard transaction to avoid assuming risk from the ongoing Aspiration investigation into the La Clippers. The two teams plan to keep the agreed-upon framework intact, which sends Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft compensation to Los Angeles. League officials do not view the delay as an indicator of impending penalties for the Clippers organization.

Why it matters: The primary concern for Toronto is the remote possibility that the league could void Leonard's contract. Management opted to let the legal process conclude rather than finalize the move immediately. The NBA has only voided one player contract in its history, which occurred after the Minnesota Timberwolves made an illicit agreement that led to a subsequent stint with the Detroit Pistons.

What to watch: The NBA expects the investigating law firm to issue its findings in the coming weeks. Commissioner Adam Silver could share the results with owners during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas.

Sources

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NBATradeDetroit PistonsLa ClippersMinnesota TimberwolvesBrandon IngramGradey Dick
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