NBA commissioner sheds light on bizarre Kawhi Leonard Raptors situation

If you thought the NBA's investigation surrounding Kawhi Leonard would wrap up anytime soon, that doesn't appear to be the case.

On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with the media in Las Vegas and shed some light on the Leonard salary cap investigation and why the Raptors' trade for the 35-year-old star has not yet been finalized.

The NBA is currently investigating the Los Angeles Clippers and Leonard to determine whether both parties circumvented the salary cap by allegedly arranging a $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal when Leonard signed with the team in 2019.

Silver said on Tuesday that the investigation still needs to run its course, and that he remains hopeful the league will reach a conclusion by the end of summer and the start of NBA training camps.

Adam Silver on the ongoing Clippers investigation:

"We all have an interest in wrapping this up. I'm hopeful that it will wrap up this summer, so that will continue to be the goal here."pic.twitter.com/eVAhkqIEn1

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) July 15, 2026

Despite not officially being on the Raptors, Leonard has already made several appearances around the organization. He attended Kyle Lowry's retirement ceremony at the team's training facility in Toronto and was also spotted courtside at the Raptors' NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

The other two players involved in the trade, Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, have also been spotted around the Clippers' facilities.

Silver also indicated that the uncertainty surrounding Leonard's situation was well known to both Toronto and Los Angeles before the trade was made and agreed to. Though Toronto reportedly chose to pause the deal until the investigation is complete.

"Any possible impact on Kawhi Leonard's contract is yet to be known, and the Raptors chose not to live with that uncertainty, but that was well known before this trade was proposed," Silver said Tuesday.

Exactly what disciplinary action Leonard could face, if any, is unclear. But if the league determines that there was a direct violation of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, there's a possibility he could forfeit salary or face a suspension this upcoming 2026-27 season.