The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers may be doing more than just hanging over the league - it may have changed the market for Leonard altogether.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Golden State Warriors were far more interested in a potential Leonard deal at last season’s trade deadline than they were later on, when the league’s scrutiny around Leonard’s endorsement arrangements had become impossible to ignore.
“The Warriors were really into the Kawhi Leonard trade idea at the trade deadline last February. They were less into that idea this summer,” Slater said.
“Part of it is the Kawhi extension. Kawhi, clearly, in a lot of ways, wanted to direct himself to Toronto.
I think we would both agree that was part of the trade complexity. But also, I think started to be sniffing around the league of this idea that maybe there was punishment heading Kawhi’s way, and I think that might have warded off some suitors.”
That uncertainty has only grown since reporter Pablo Torre uncovered an endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration last season, then later found a second similar arrangement with Daktronics. The NBA still hasn’t handed down punishment to Leonard or the Clippers, but it has halted the trade from becoming official for now.
Even with that cloud still hanging over everything, the belief around the league is that Leonard’s move to Toronto could eventually get done before the 2026-27 season begins. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Leonard is expecting the deal to go through and is preparing for a Raptors return.
“Leonard, sources say, strongly believes that the trade will ultimately go through, enabling him to rejoin the Raptors in time for training camp,” Fischer wrote. “The trade was agreed to, sources say, with the idea that the 35-year-old would also negotiate a multiyear extension with Toronto to extend the reunion beyond the coming season. Leonard is due to earn $50.3 million in 2026-27 in the final year of his current contract.”
Anthony Slater on teams backing off from trading for Kawhi Leonard:
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) August 12, 2026
“I think started to be sniffing around the league of this idea that maybe there was punishment heading Kawhi’s way, and I think that might have warded off some suitors.” pic.twitter.com/3ZKGLO5Es8
Leonard spent one season with Toronto and delivered a championship, earning Finals MVP honors in 2019.
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