The Raptors “decided to pause” the F Kawhi Leonard trade after learning they had to “commit in writing to assume any risk of any penalties” Leonard might incur from an investigation into his Clippers contract, according to sources cited by Doug Smith of the TORONTO STAR. The investigation involves a side deal tied to Leonard’s contract with the Clippers that “may or may not have included a no-show endorsement deal that could have paid him up to $28 million” from a sponsorship firm called Aspiration that had a deal with the team. It has yet to wrap up after about 10 months, and there Is “no clear idea when it will be done.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he “still expects a resolution ‘this summer’ but the final report from the independent law firm conducting the investigation is not finished.” Smith wrote whether it is “simply a case of the Raptors being alarmed at having to sign a legal document at the final moment instead of just hearing about ramifications verbally, the organization decide to slow roll the transaction.” The Raptors “don’t seem overly concerned at the pace of the process,” and sources insist that they “think the deal as proposed will be consummated” (TORONTO STAR, 7/15).
STICKY SITUATION: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur wrote however this ends, it has “been a long time coming.” As details have been unearthed, the Clippers have “protested but one constant has remained: There has never been a single plausible explanation for this other than salary cap circumvention.” That “leaves Silver in a tricky spot.” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is “by far the richest owner in the NBA.” One has to “presume that for all the circumstantial evidence, this case lacks the smoking-gun proof of the last great cap circumvention case.” The “best hope” here is Silver has actually allowed the investigation to extend this far for “two reasons: one, because Wachtell is actually getting closer to the truth on what is clearly cap circumvention amid what Silver called reluctant witnesses; and two, because Silver knows he needs as much ammunition as possible before negotiating with the richest guy in the league.” Either way, a “big chunk of Silver’s legacy will be written this summer” (TORONTO STAR, 7/16).