NBA, Clippers Address Reports on Kawhi Leonard and Salary Cap amid Investigation

The NBA and the Los Angeles Clippers issued statements Monday following a new report regarding the ongoing investigation into possible salary-cap circumvention by the team.

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne reported the NBA "found no evidence" showing Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used corporate sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard an amount that exceeded the max salary.

However, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said ESPN's story "contains numerous and significant inaccuracies." The league has yet to complete its full investigation:

The Clippers, meanwhile, maintain they "did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard, arrange for others to compensate him on our behalf, or otherwise provide him with undisclosed compensation outside of his NBA contract":

Leonard originally signed with the Clippers on a three-year, $103.1 million contract in 2019. They also acquired Paul George that same offseason in a bid to immediately contend for a title.

Injuries to the two stars played the biggest role in L.A. failing to fulfill those ambitions. The team reached the 2021 Western Conference Finals and has since failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs.

Now, the organization is ready to move in a different direction.

George left as a free agent in 2024, and the Clippers lined up a trade sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors this summer. The Raptors subsequently paused the deal due to the ongoing investigation.

If the NBA clears Los Angeles of any major wrongdoing, that would seemingly give the green light for the seven-time All-Star's return to Toronto.

For now, everyone appears to remain in a holding pattern pending the league's official resolution.