The NBA has finally issued a ruling on the months-long case that has prevented the Toronto Raptors from finalizing their trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that will send Kawhi Leonard back to Canada. By all measures, the Clippers were broadsided with some tremendously limiting penalties.
Per Shams Charania, the Clippers will be stripped of five future first-round picks between the 2029 and 2033 seasons, and owner Steve Ballmer has been fined $30 million. Ballmer and Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker have been suspended for one year, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank has been suspended for six months
As it pertains to the Raptors, Leonard will not receive any suspension or have his contract voided. This points to the agreed-upon trade between Toronto and Los Angeles finally coming to fruition, making Leonard's return to Ontario official after months of uncertainty.
Toronto Raptors have to be thrilled with Kawhi Leonard saga punishments
Leonard will need to repay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits provided by the Clippers to "Uncle" Dennis Robertson, his longtime business partner. Robertson has also been banned from conducting business with the NBA or anyone associated with the league for a minimum of five years.
This decision is extremely draconian from Silver, but the blame was at least put in the right place. The issue of salary cap circumvention was a Clippers problem, not a Leonard problem. As a result, the Clippers just saw their most premium assets to improve the team in the short-term decimated, though they will receive some picks when the Kawhi trade is finalized.
Kawhi Leonard will soon return to the Toronto Raptors via trade
Leonard will soon be traded back to the Raptors for a package centered around All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, and a package of NBA Draft picks. Toronto will send their first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 to LA, and the Clippers will have the right to swap picks in 2027. The Raptors will send two additional second-round picks as well.
This punishment may be a best-case scenario for the Raptors, as Leonard's only penalty was a drop-in-the-bucket fine that will not impact his availability at the beginning of the season, and the offending party in Los Angeles was held accountable. Once the paperwork is done, Leonard will make his triumphant return to Toronto.
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