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The Toronto Raptors say they have put their proposed trade for Kawhi Leonard on hold after the NBA said the team would assume the risk of any outcome from the league’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers.
The proposed deal would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a 2027 pick swap and two second-round picks to the Clippers for Leonard.
The NBA opened an investigation in September following allegations first reported by journalist Pablo Torre that Leonard signed a $28-million US “no-show” endorsement deal with Aspiration, an environmental financial technology company, that required no work beyond remaining with the Clippers.
Aspiration later entered bankruptcy after its co-founder was charged with fraud, though Leonard has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
The Toronto Raptors are reportedly close to reacquiring Kawhi Leonard, who led the team to its first ever NBA Championship in 2019, in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Raptors sideline reporter Akil Augustine discusses what the reported move could mean for the team.
The Raptors said they will wait until the investigation is complete before moving ahead with the trade.
“The NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the team said in a statement.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”
The Clippers released their own statement expressing confidence that the investigation will exonerate the franchise of any wrongdoing.
“We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing,” part of the statement read.
Leonard led the Raptors to their only NBA championship in 2019 before leaving for the Clippers as a free agent that summer.
He turned 35 earlier this month but is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.
Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA champion (also winning in 2014 with San Antonio) and is generally considered one of the game’s top defensive players.
Leonard made a public appearance in Toronto on Tuesday, attending Kyle Lowry’s retirement ceremony as the Raptors worked to finalize the proposed trade.
An ESPN report on Monday said that Leonard had a new agent and was in contract-extension negotiations with the Raptors as part of the deal.
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