New Kawhi Leonard Rumors Update Timeline for Clippers-Raptors Trade to Be Finalized After NBA Probe

With the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers complete, the question now is when Kawhi Leonard will be on his way to the Toronto Raptors following a trade agreement earlier this offseason.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that the trade has not been finalized because the Clippers are still restructuring their front office after team owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received suspensions.

Fischer noted that Leonard has been in Miami for an organized minicamp with other Raptors players.

The Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Raptors on June 30 in return for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-round picks in 2030 and 2033 and rights to a first-round pick swap in 2027, but the league had to conclude its investigation before the deal was finalized.

After the NBA found that the Clippers had violated the salary cap circumvention rules, Leonard was fined $700,000. Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for a year, while Lawrence was dealt a six-month suspension.

Los Angeles also had to forfeit five first-round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033.

Shortly after the league announced the punishments, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the trade was still expected to go through.

"There's full expectation that this trade will be going down as is between the Clippers and the Raptors that had multiple first-round picks, other swaps and second-round pick considerations going to the Clippers," Charania reported on SportsCenter. "The trade is on track and both sides can now move forward with getting this deal done."

While there has been no indication that either side plans to back out of the trade, it seems there will be a waiting period before it is completed. The Raptors begin training camp at the end of the month and presumably prefer for Leonard to be on the roster by then.

Once Leonard joins Toronto, it will mark a reunion between the two sides after seven years apart. Leonard's sole season with the Raptors in 2018-19 ended with a championship, and he's looking for a similar result this time around.

While the Raptors are gearing up for what should be a good season, the Clippers are likely looking at a down year without Leonard, and forfeiting five first-rounders will make their rebuild even harder.