How Kawhi Leonard trade could become very awkward for Toronto

The Kawhi Leonard trade to the Toronto Raptors is still frozen, and if the NBA's investigation does not resolve by the end of September,  it could make for a very awkward training camp.

According to a report from The Athletic, the NBA's ongoing investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers could drag on well beyond the start of the 2026-27 season, given the league's legal process.

If that happens, it would mean that Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick could still be technically on the Raptors when training camp opens in October.

Earlier this month, Toronto's front office paused the June 30 trade while the NBA continues to investigate allegations that Leonard and the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through a reported $28-million "no-show" endorsement deal.

The investigation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz law firm is just the FIRST step in the Kawhi Leonard Aspiration investigation and it certainly seems possible that there is no resolution by training camp, per @johnhollinger

“The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement… pic.twitter.com/f3uC9sRJPb

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 20, 2026

Last week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was hopeful the investigation would be resolved before training camp. However, John Hollinger of The Athletic reports that Silver's "hopeful" timeline remains unlikely.

Hollinger indicated that while the law firm hired by the NBA handles the preliminary investigation, any actual discipline under the league's CBA requires an additional system arbitrator trial before any penalty can be handed down by the commissioner.

Then there's an appeal process.

It could be well into the 2026-27 NBA season until there's a resolution to this, which puts all players involved in this deal into an awkward situation — back on a team that moved on from them.

Leonard has already attended Kyle Lowry's retirement ceremony at the Raptors' training facility and was later spotted courtside at Toronto's NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas, despite not officially being a member of the team.

Kawhi Leonard sits courtside during a July 13th NBA Summer League game between the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers. (NBAonPrime/X)

Meanwhile, Ingram and Dick have already been seen around Clippers players and the facilities.

The longer the investigation drags on, the more complicated Toronto's summer becomes.

Not only could Raptors training camp open and feature players who are no longer on the team, but this trade and investigation have also put a stranglehold on the team's ability to make any additional big moves.