It’s already creeping toward mid-September, and Kawhi Leonard is still a Clipper.
That’s the strange reality hanging over a trade that ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported on June 30, when he said the Clippers and Raptors had reached an agreement centered on Leonard. More than two months later, though, the deal still hasn’t been finalized.
For the Celtics, that delay matters more than it might for most teams. Boston has a possible path to LA’s 2028 first-round pick, and Toronto could wind up being one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way in the Eastern Conference this season.
So what’s holding this up?
Toronto said on July 9 that it had been told it would “assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.” Because of that, the Raptors waited for the NBA to finish its investigation into the Clippers before moving ahead.
When the league finally ruled nearly two months later, it penalized Leonard and the Clippers for violating salary-cap circumvention rules. Leonard was fined $700,000, but he was not suspended and the NBA did not void his contract, which cleared up Toronto’s main concern.
Even then, the trade still didn’t get over the line.
The league also suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for one year, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension. NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that the Clippers are working through a new front-office structure after those punishments, and that restructuring is one of the main reasons Leonard still hasn’t ended up in Toronto.
Stein also added a strange little twist: some around the league have begun to “wonder aloud” whether the Clippers are dragging this out even further to get back at Leonard for taking the league’s punishment instead of appealing it.
Still, not everyone thinks the deal is dead. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst continues to expect it to happen as originally agreed, and NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin reported the same, pointing to the Clippers’ front-office shakeup as the biggest holdup.
From Boston’s point of view, the ripple effects are obvious.
If the Clippers do move Leonard, it could shape the value of that 2028 first-rounder the Celtics may eventually have a stake in. LA already had five future first-round picks taken away by the NBA, so any step toward a rebuild only adds more intrigue to that asset.
And then there’s Toronto itself. The Raptors are simply a tougher team with Leonard on the floor. He gives them the shot creation they need, and after how difficult they were in last season’s playoffs, that kind of addition could push them into real Finals-run territory.
Without Leonard, though, Toronto faces a much steeper climb just to land in the top six in the East.
So this one deal could cut both ways for Boston: it might make the Clippers worse and raise the value of a future pick, while also making the Eastern Conference a lot more crowded.
In Other News...
Jaylen Brown Just Gave Celtics Fans A Wild New Reason To Watch
Jaylen Browns offseason keeps finding ways to surprise Celtics fans, even after his recent move to Philadelphia. One of the leagues most recognizable stars took part in a competitive boxing event in Nigeria, tying the appearance to one of his charity initiatives and showing a side of his game that has long been easy to miss from the basketball court. It was light sparring, but it fit neatly with Browns broader interest in combat sports and the toughness he has always projected.
Brown has talked before about training in Muay Thai, and the boxing ring is hardly a random detour for him. For Boston fans who watched him grow into one of the NBAs most physical wings, the possibility of a post-basketball path in boxing or even the UFC adds another layer to an already unusual career arc. For now, it is just an offseason subplot, but it is the kind of one that makes people wonder what Brown might chase once his basketball days are done. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Already Have A Problem With Nikes Latest Look
Nikes new alternate-uniform rollout has already stirred up plenty of reaction, and Boston is very much part of the conversation. The NBA and Nike introduced the Specter Edition collection for eight teams, including the Celtics, at a recent event, with the line set for an official release next week. Nike has framed the uniforms as a nod to basketball culture and individuality, but the early response from fans has been mostly skeptical.
For Celtics followers, the issue is not just another wardrobe tweak but whether the new look actually fits a franchise whose identity is tied so closely to tradition. The collection also includes the Hawks, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Pistons and 76ers, but Bostons design is drawing its share of attention because every alternate jersey tends to get measured against the standard the Celtics have spent decades building. After this first wave of reaction, the real test comes once the jerseys are on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Have A Real Defensive Trade Debate Tied To The Clippers
The Celtics have been looking for ways to tighten the rotation without overhauling the roster, and a Kris Dunn trade idea from Los Angeles fits that kind of thinking. Boston could land the Clippers guard in exchange for three future second-round picks, a modest price on the surface for a player whose calling card is defense and whose offense has continued to improve. His contract also lines up with the teams trade exception, which makes the framework at least workable from Bostons side.
What makes the proposal interesting is the balance of need and cost. The Celtics would be betting that Dunn can bring point-of-attack resistance and help shore up a perimeter group that values versatility, while the Clippers would turn a defensive guard into future draft capital and clear his deal off the books. The real question for Boston is whether that kind of defensive upgrade is worth spending draft assets now, especially when the market could offer other ways to address the same issue. [Read more 🡒]