By admin 
With Kawhi Leonard not receiving any suspension from the salary cap circumvention investigation involving him and the Los Angeles Clippers, many thought that the trade that would send him back to the Toronto Raptors would soon be completed.
Stein reports the Kawhi trade to Toronto is not a done deal
However, it’s been 10 days since the NBA announced the punishments for that case, and Kawhi is still a Clipper. With the two teams already agreeing to a deal before it was put on hold, the belief is that it’s the league office that’s preventing the deal from being consummated. But according to veteran NBA analyst Marc Stein, it’s not Adam Silver’s office holding up that trade.
“Sources briefed on the situation tell @TheSteinLine that the Clippers and Raptors are free at any time to co-submit for NBA approval their agreed-in-June Kawhi Leonard trade. Obviously both teams must want the trade call, but I’m told there is no holdup at league level,”wrote Stein on ‘X.”
Are the Clippers trying to make it hard for Kawhi?
It’s worth remembering that early in the offseason, the Clippers and Raptors agreed to a trade that would send Leonard to Toronto, along with Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks, a 2027 first-round swap, and two future second-round picks. However, the Raptors asked to put the deal on hold, with the NBA expected to announce the penalties from its investigation, with the possibility that Leonard would be suspended. However, Kawhi only got a $700K fine.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the delay was due to a reorganization of the Clippers’ front office following the suspensions of their executives. However, not only has it been almost a week since that reason was given, but that justification also made little sense, as it was a deal the two parties had previously agreed upon.
Read more Inside Ben Shelton & Trinity Rodman’s Captivating Love Story: Who Made the First Move?
Now, there are rumors that the Clippers are intentionally delaying the move because they aren’t happy with Leonard getting only a slap on the wrist despite being the primary party in the violation. Regardless of the real reason, many are starting to question whether the deal is actually going through, especially on the Clippers’ side.
Toronto is very confident that the deal is pushing through
But while there are many stories from the Clippers camp, the Raptors seem to be very confident that the trade is good as done.
Earlier this week, Kawhi was seen working out individually at the University of Miami gym while other Raptors players were holding a mini-camp there. Leonard was already wearing Raptors gear. And when someone asked him if he was going back to Toronto, he replied: “I hope so…we gonna win.”
Leonard had arguably the best one-year run in the history of the league when he led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title in his first and only season in Toronto. The Raptors wanted him to stay, but he chose to play close to home and went to L.A. Now he realizes that Toronto feels more like home than Los Angeles.
Read more FSU Football Opens As Massive Underdog Against Alabama Crimson Tide
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 10:44 AM.