Kawhi Leonard’s wait to get back to Toronto isn’t over yet, but he was very much on the scene at one of the city’s biggest tennis events.
Leonard was spotted at the National Bank Open in Toronto taking in Naomi Osaka’s match against Elena Rybakina, a public appearance that came while his situation with the Los Angeles Clippers remains tied up in controversy.
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in July, but the deal was put on hold after the NBA opened an investigation into his possible role in the team’s alleged circumvention of the salary cap. The initial reporting suggested the probe could run into next year, though The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported, citing sources, that it is “closer to completion,” which could clear the way for Leonard to join the Raptors in time for training camp in September.
For now, Leonard is still in limbo. He has remained quiet through the fallout, though he has denied any wrongdoing.
The allegations around him have centered on more than one business arrangement. In addition to his supposed involvement with Aspiration, a now-defunct investment company, Leonard allegedly had a lucrative sponsorship deal with Daktronics, the company that provided the Clippers with the jumbotron at Intuit Dome. The claim is that Daktronics was also used to funnel money to the two-time Finals MVP.
Toronto’s trade haul for Leonard included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft capital, but the reunion will have to wait. Leonard led the Raptors to the championship in 2019 during his one season with the franchise, and that return remains on hold while the NBA process plays out.
The 35-year-old is coming off a strong season as well, averaging a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 65 games, his second-most in eight years. He shot 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.
On the court at the National Bank Open, Osaka handled her business too, beating Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
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