SILVER SAYS CLIPPERS AND RAPTORS CHOSE NOT TO COMPLETE LEONARD TRADE

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that the league did not pause the proposed trade of Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors, placing responsibility for the delay on the two teams involved. Silver made the comments whilst addressing media at Summer League in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. He said the Clippers and Raptors decided jointly not to proceed with the transaction because an ongoing league investigation into the Clippers remained unresolved and its possible impact on Leonard or his contract was unknown. Silver stated that the teams chose not to accept that uncertainty, though he noted this risk had been apparent before the trade was proposed.

The Clippers are under investigation for alleged salary cap circumvention in their dealings with Leonard. In a joint statement on 9 July, both teams announced the trade was on hold. The Clippers denied wrongdoing and said they had been informed that finalising the trade required the Raptors to assume the risk of any penalties resulting from the ongoing investigation. The Raptors indicated in their statement that the league office had informed them they would assume the risk of any potential outcome from the investigation impacting Leonard.

Silver said the investigation must run its course and that the status of Leonard would not change merely because he was traded. He stated he saw no reason for people to believe the investigation's outcome would differ based on the player's team. The teams are expected to finalise the trade once the investigation concludes, according to the Clippers' statement.