Green reacted to the NBA punishment handed down on the Clippers during The Draymond Green Show. “Five first-round picks — that is, including the picks that the Clippers just picked up in a trade from Cleveland with Darius Garland and James Harden. That includes all of the assets that they’ve acquired. If I’m not mistaken, it includes some of the picks from the Zubac trade as well,” Green said.

“That’s where the hammer is dropped. It’s crippling for a franchise — for an organization. Especially a franchise that just went through a six-to-seven-year period of thinking they’re right there with the possibility of winning.”

The Clippers will suffer the consequences

Green focused heavily on the long-term fallout for the franchise, pointing out everything they had built up to this point and everything they lost due to these poor decisions. He recognized that the Clippers will likely go through one of the hardest periods in their history for a long time.

“And now, you’re in a space where you have to reset — just got a top-5 pick in Keaton Wagler. And all of a sudden, you have to do that with losing five first-round draft picks. It may stick the Clippers in purgatory for a long time to come.”

Green believes the added pressure left in the wake of Leonard‘s no-show endorsement deal leaves the Clippers and their players in a tough position ahead of the 2026-27 season.

“It makes you think what certain players like Darius Garland — how are they going to look at being in this place now? A coach like Ty Lue, how does he look at being in this place now? It’s going to dampen the vibe around the Clippers,” Green added.

“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” the Clippers’ statement read, according to insider Shams Charania.

After Leonard and the Clippers were strongly punished by the NBA—affecting five first-round picks and over $30 million in fines—the organization in the City of Angels won’t accept the results of the investigation. The Clippers believe they were never judged fairly and that the NBA was only looking to cherry-pick its way to fulfill a narrative. Moreover, the franchise didn’t hesitate to go after league commissioner Adam Silver, calling him out for being two-faced.

“What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure it’s fairness and accuracy,” the team’s statement read.

Can the Clippers appeal NBA’s sanctions?

The Los Angeles Clippers have put on their gloves and tucked in their mouth guard. They made that very clear. “For the past year, we cooperated fully and in good faith and we will now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence,” the organization stated. “We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.“

However, they may have no grounds to make their case. Well, only one, and it’s in court. “The NBA’s rulings are final,” Shams Charania reported on his X account. “There is no formal appeal or arbitration process available to the Clippers with the league. LA’s only outlet to fight the punishment is in court.”

Judging by the Clippers’ tone and the vigor of their statement, going down that path can’t be ruled out, and in fact, is to be expected. Los Angeles is holding its ground, and it won’t go down without a fight. Its pride is in the mud now. Not only have the Clippers been found guilty of circumventing the cap, but the organization’s honesty has also been put in question. There is no lower place for the team to reach, so it makes sense for them to fight their way up.

It’s on between the Clippers and the NBA

It has truly hit the fan now. The Clippers aren’t going down without a fight, and the NBA has made its decision final. Something has to give. Although he’s been suspended from all league and team activities for one year, owner Steve Ballmer will hold his ground, and his duel with Commissioner Silver is now set to be a compelling storyline in the offseason.

The dog days of summer are over now, and in Inglewood, it’s SummerSlam time. The Clippers are set to enter the ring against the league, and everybody knows only one can walk away from it in one piece.

“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard stated through his agent, as reported by NBA insider Shams Charania.

“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap. For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”

Kawhi denies being aware of cap-circumventing antics

As Leonard made clear in his statement after the NBA‘s investigation into his Clippers contract resulted in costly sanctions for both him and his former organization, he was unaware of the team’s intentions to circumvent the salary cap. However, the NBA’s statement says otherwise, finding Leonard—or at least his then-manager, Dennis Robertson—to be a culprit.

“Mr. Leonard, through the conduct of Mr. Robertson on his behalf, violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses,” the NBA’s official statement read.

For his alleged role in the salary-cap circumvention, the NBA handed Kawhi Leonard a $700,000 fine. Still, Leonard didn’t receive as harsh a punishment as the other parties involved in the investigation.

No suspension means Kawhi’s Toronto trade faces no danger

Leonard received no suspension, while Clippers owner Steve Ballmer (one-year suspension), President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker (one-year suspension), and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank (six-month suspension) can’t say the same. As for Leonard’s former agent, Robertson has been banned from the NBA and its affiliates for five years.

All the while, the Clippers are subject to a compliance and monitoring program. Leonard, however, will be able to play from the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Thus, as he faces no suspension and must only pay the NBA roughly 1.4% of his salary for the season, his trade to the Toronto Raptors should face no danger. Kawhi himself confirmed it, stating, “As I return to Toronto…” in his open letter after the penalties were announced.

Kawhi Leonard’s contract

With all the noise surrounding Leonard’s cap-circumventing contract, many fans wonder what his actual deal looks like. Kawhi signed a three-year, $149.5 million contract with the Clippers running through the 2026-27 NBA season.

Under this deal, Leonard made an average salary of $49.8 million. During the next campaign, though back in The Six, Kawhi will be paid a guaranteed salary of $50.3 million by the franchise he led to glory back in 2019.

“The NBA announced today that the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard have been penalized for violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA),” NBA PR said in a statement.

The league handed down the following discipline:

• The Clippers shall forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts.
• The Clippers are fined $30 million.
• Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.
• Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year for being primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for providing false and misleading statements to investigators.
• Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Mr. Leonard and his family.
• The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years.
• In connection with his violations, Mr. Leonard is required to pay the league $700,000.
• Mr. Robertson is banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of five years.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver weighs in on penalties

In a statement addressing the discipline, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared his perspective on the findings involving Leonard and the Clippers. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations,“ Silver stated.

The decision not only complicates the path forward for the Clippers over the coming seasons, but also serves as a stark warning to the rest of the league. Any organization considering similar workarounds now faces clear proof of the severe consequences handed down by the NBA.

Leonard, Clippers release statements

Following the NBA’s decision, Kawhi Leonard released a statement regarding the ruling as he turns his attention toward a return to the Toronto Raptors following the ongoing drama between him and the Clippers.

Meanwhile, the Clippers also reacted to the penalties. In a statement shared by Charania, the Clippers made it clear that they will challenge the NBA punishments affecting their draft picks.

Sam Amick of The Athletic previously reported that Leonard had a staggering list of demands for the Lakers. Behind his uncle and infamous business manager, Dennis Robertson, Leonard wanted the franchise to meet lofty conditions before he would consider signing with the purple and gold:

• Part ownership of the team
• A private plane that would be available at all times
• A house
• A guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money

Robertson repeatedly demanded all these from Jeanie Buss, but the Lakers governor ultimately dismissed them due to obvious illegality under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Kawhi’s suspicious decision

What was once puzzling now makes sense regarding why he ended up choosing that destination. In the end, Leonard joined the Clippers on a three-year, $103.1 million contract. At that time, no one knew that both sides had a handshake agreement that would create headlines across the NBA six years later.

New revelation in the investigation

After fully exposing Leonard and the Clippers’ ties to Aspiration through a dummy $28 million endorsement contract, investigative journalist Pablo Torre recently revealed another crucial detail, adding a new dimension to the case surrounding the star forward.

According to Torre, Leonard apparently has another hidden channel to receive off-the-books money from the Clippers. Daktronics, the manufacturer of Los Angeles’ scoreboard, has a secret multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with Leonard.

The Clippers commissioned Daktronics for $100 million for the construction of the famous “Halo Board” at Intuit Dome, raising questions about how much Leonard earned through this secret deal with the electronics company.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet recently shared what he thinks the most likely outcome of the trade will be. “A negotiated settlement where the NBA gets to enforce some version of its rules, Ballmer can save face and Leonard can play for the Raptors,” Grange wrote.

“Whether Torre’s latest finding is new information to the NBA’s investigation or not, a report in The Athletic last month said a second no-show endorsement deal was already part of the investigation, the sense is that it won’t affect the next stage of the process, namely figuring out what the league is going to do with the information it has collected.”

What remains on pause

The trade that sent Leonard to the Raptors and Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the Clippers is still on pause, and it won’t be completed until the investigation is possibly over. There is still a chance for things to be cleared up before training camp, which will be good for the players so they can be with their new teams.

The league is working quietly to get things resolved quickly, and according to Grange, things have moved beyond the fact-finding stage. All of this comes without even an estimated timeline for when it might reach a conclusion.

What is new in the investigation?

Things continue to be extremely complicated for Kawhi Leonard. First, Leonard was under investigation for his Aspiration sponsorship. Now, he is under suspicion for a second sponsorship.

According to Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Leonard was involved in a sponsorship with the LA-based crisis firm Daktronics’ Ballmer. An NBA insider told Torre that it was a case of history repeating itself. In other words, Leonard and company were trying to defy the rules of the NBA salary cap.

According to Torre’s sources, Leonard had a hidden multimillion-dollar “sponsorship” with Daktronics. This once again raises alarms about Leonard and the Clippers, as it suggests they may have added even more money on top of his contract and the alleged Aspiration deal.

“This Kawhi deal was not only discussed by higher-ups with the Clippers to circumvent the salary cap… This second source was also told that Kawhi’s sponsorship with Daktronics was a multimillion-dollar deal,” Torre revealed on his show, Pablo Torre Finds Out.

Raptors trade still on standby

The issue surrounding Leonard stems from a curious scenario. The Clippers made an innovative shift within the franchise when construction began on Intuit Dome, their new arena. The team began using the venue in August 2024, and it has been a huge success for both the organization and the fans attending in person.

One of its biggest attractions is the massive circular screen appropriately known as the Halo Board. It is a gigantic, halo-shaped, double-sided 4K video board built by Daktronics. That company proves key because it is involved in this new controversy brought to light by Torre.

Now that Torre has brought this to light, it presents another massive problem for Leonard, the Clippers, and even the Raptors. For Toronto, the direct consequence would be failing to acquire the player they are targeting. However, the situation is far more serious for Leonard and the Clippers, as this marks their second instance of salary cap circumvention and could result in harsh penalties from the NBA if Torre’s reporting proves accurate.

Why is this a problem?

NBA rules aim to prevent teams from using alternative funding sources to provide financial advantages to their players and circumvent restrictions set by the collective bargaining agreement.

During an appearance on streamer N3ON’s stream, Dillon Brooks offered just three definitive words. During the conversation, N3ON said, “Raptors did get Kawhi.” Brooks immediately replied, “It’s not happening.”

Brooks’ comment does not provide official information regarding the trade discussions. However, it came as Toronto continues to evaluate whether to move forward while the NBA’s investigation remains open.

Why has the trade not happened?

The Toronto Raptors made a big splash this summer with the addition of Kawhi Leonard. After finishing fifth last season (46-36), the franchise is hoping that Leonard will lead it to prosperity in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.

But now, amid the NBA’s cap-circumvention investigation, there are doubts that the trade will even go through. Leonard, 35, was a Clipper for six years leading up to this summer.

The scandal involves a potential back-door agreement between Leonard and the Clippers to use a fraudulent tree-planting company as a front to skirt the salary cap. It was discovered that Kawhi had a $28 million no-show endorsement deal with the company, which was eventually (and indirectly) traced to team owner Steve Ballmer himself.

The risk the Raptors do not want to take

If the Raptors trade for Kawhi now, the team would be assuming all the risks that come with it, including the possibility that Leonard’s contract is voided, which would be a nightmare given what it gave up to get him. Given that fact, it makes sense for the Raptors to be hesitant about taking on Kawhi, but canceling the trade outright would be the worst possible outcome for everyone.

Kawhi’s performance

While he ultimately failed to lead the franchise to an NBA title, his impact on the floor is obvious, with averages of 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 50.5% shooting from the field last season. At his best, Kawhi is an elite two-way wing player who brings championship experience and powerful versatility to any lineup.

According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, the outside law firm hired by the NBA appears to have finished its work. The league must now review the findings and determine whether Leonard, the Clippers, or owner Steve Ballmer should face discipline. “The investigation, I think, is over now,” Vorkunov said. “The NBA is kind of like sifting through what the law firm they hired has found, deciding whether there’s a punishment or not that they then want to levy.”

The probe centers on allegations that Leonard‘s endorsement agreement with Aspiration—a now-bankrupt company financially connected to Ballmer—may have been used to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap. Leonard reportedly agreed to a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal that also included company equity, though he did not participate in traditional promotional campaigns for the company.

Wait continues for Leonard trade

The Clippers have denied any wrongdoing and maintain that the team was the victim of fraud related to Aspiration, rather than participating in an attempt to offer Leonard additional compensation.

Although the investigation phase appears to have concluded, the process could remain unresolved for some time. Vorkunov explained that any proposed penalty might have to be presented to an arbitrator in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. The National Basketball Players Association would also intervene if the league decides to sanction Leonard, and either party could appeal the decision.

This uncertainty continues to delay the proposed trade that would send Leonard to Toronto in a package including Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and future draft pick compensation. Vorkunov still expects the deal to materialize unless the NBA imposes the most severe penalty possible and voids Leonard’s contract.

For now, Leonard, Ingram, and Dick remain attached to their previous teams despite the trade agreement. With no firm timetable for a decision, the uncertainty could extend toward training camp. Leonard is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 27.9 points while remaining one of the NBA‘s most effective two-way players when available.

According to The Athletic, the third-party investigation into the controversy has officially ended. However, that does not mean the waiting period is over. The facts of the case have all been delivered, according to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov.

Now that the investigation has officially concluded, the league will review what has been discovered. The only step remaining is waiting for the league to render its final decision.

The trade remains incomplete

Even with the investigation finalized, pending matters remain, meaning Leonard’s transaction is not yet complete. The deal sending Leonard to Toronto for Ingram and Dick remains stalled. Adam Silver and the NBA will have to decide whether the findings warrant penalties. If penalties are issued, the case will go to trial per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Currently, there is no timeline for when this matter will be resolved. Leonard, Ingram, and Dick may very well still be on the rosters of the teams they were traded from when training camp officially opens in October.

This would create an awkward situation in which the players involved in the trade would be unable to report to their prospective new teams—a scenario that could impact team chemistry if they are eventually cleared to proceed with the transaction.

Why the NBA is investigating Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers

The league maintains strict rules governing contract distribution, including a cap on how much a team can spend on its roster. This specific rule is the one the Clippers are accused of violating with Leonard.

In 2022, the Clippers’ star forward signed a four-year endorsement deal worth $28 million with a company called Aspiration, which also included $20 million in company equity.

Due to the circumstances surrounding his contract with the firm, the endorsement deal is being viewed as a potential case of salary cap circumvention. The allegation contends that the Clippers used the deal to pay Leonard more than his NBA contract specified, allowing the organization to funnel additional money to him without it counting against the league’s salary cap.

According to Jake Weinbach, the Warriors will likely shop the No. 11 overall pick in trade talks for an immediate impact player that can help maximize the remaining years of the Steph Curry era. The Bay Area side remains in win-now mode after signing Steve Kerr to a new two-year deal.

And something else that was also mentioned is that Kawhi Leonard, Trey Murphy III, and Michael Porter Jr. would be notable names for Golden State to monitor on the trade market. The Warriors would most likely attach first-round draft compensation to Jimmy Butler’s $56.8M expiring salary in any blockbuster deal.

Butler as the main tool to get something done

The Warriors could gauge Butler’s trade market this offseason as they evaluate the roster’s direction. Butler is recovering from a torn right ACL suffered in January. He underwent surgery in February and is expected to miss nine to 12 months, placing a potential return in the late 2026 NBA season.

He is 36 and under contract through 2026-27 after signing a two-year extension following his arrival from the Miami Heat. He is owed $54.1 million next season and $56.8 million the year after.

The Warriors still count on the old guard

It is still too early to say that Curry and Green will remain with the Warriors, but it is almost a fact that they will, and now with Steve Kerr agreeing to a two-year deal, signaling the organization still intends to compete rather than reset.

The Warriors will go against desperation and against all odds. After coming off a season where injuries badly affected them, they will aim for consistency and health for a better postseason.