Yesterday’s (Sept. 2) blockbuster news—the NBA fining the Los Angeles Clippers US$30 million and stripping the team of five first-round draft picks while clearing the Toronto Raptors to acquire Kawhi Leonard—had surprisingly little impact on National Basketball Association (NBA) betting futures.
Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers shoots a free throw against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA play-in game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood in April. (Image: Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
“There wasn’t much movement as the news didn’t really change anything for this upcoming season,” said David Lieberman, Pro Basketball Lead Trader at Caesars Sportsbook, based in Las Vegas.
“We moved the Raptors’ win total up slightly since it provides some clarity on his punishment, or lack thereof, but otherwise, not much changes as a result of the league fining the Clippers and docking them draft picks.”
Sportsbooks Anticipated Leonard Trade
Caesars has the Raptors at +2800 to win the NBA title this morning. Ahead of them are the San Antonio Spurs (+260), Oklahoma City Thunder (+290), Philadelphia 76ers (+750), New York Knicks (+800), Boston Celtics (+2000), Minnesota Timberwolves (+2200), Denver Nuggets (+2500), and the Miami Heat (+2800).
The NBA announced yesterday (Sept. 2) that it would not suspend Leonard or void his contract after the salary-cap circumvention investigation into the Clippers. However, the NBA fined Leonard $700,000.
A trade between the Raptors and Clippers on June 30 saw the Raptors acquire Leonard in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two future first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a first-round pick swap.
Raptors Futures Move Slightly
Raptors management later announced they were putting the trade on hold due to the NBA’s investigation.
Christian Cipollini, senior trading manager at BetMGM, said after the news broke yesterday (Sept. 2), BetMGM trimmed Raptors championship futures odds from +3300 to +3000. Clippers odds stayed the same, at +75000.
“From a betting perspective, it doesn’t change too much for this year,” he said. “We were already operating as if the trade would go through and just made a small tweak to the futures now that it appears it will. All of the extra stuff is obviously a big deal, but for the 2026/27 season [odds] will mostly be the same.”
Clippers Odds Remain Unchanged
Aaron Oster, Circa Sports marketing manager, also said their oddsmakers assumed the Leonard trade would go through.
Yesterday (Sept. 2), the Raptors were +2400 to win the NBA championship at Circa, +825 to win the Eastern Conference, and +580 to win the Atlantic Division. The Clippers were +25000 to win the championship. Those odds haven’t changed.
FanDuel’s NBA championship futures, post news: Oklahoma City (+230), San Antonio (+280), New York (+950), Philadelphia (+1000), Boston (+1400), and Toronto (+2200).
NBA Imposes Major Penalties
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker were suspended for one year. President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months.
Leonard’s uncle and former business manager Dennis Robertson was banned from conducting business with NBA teams and their affiliates for five years.
“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am,” Leonard said in a statement. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.
Leonard Accepts Personal Responsibility
“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.
“For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”
Leonard now joins a Raptors lineup led by Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Immanuel Quickley.