Toronto Raptors Could be Saved by 1 Thing After New Kawhi Leonard Report
· Yahoo Sports
The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard, the LA Clippers, and Aspiration is nearing the one-year mark. Launched after podcaster Pablo Torre initially uncovered what has been an alleged salary-cap circumvention scheme, facilitated through a now-bankrupt former Intuit Dome sponsor, this investigation has gone on longer than many initially anticipated. With Leonard now in the middle of a pending trade that would send him back to the Toronto Raptors, the urgency among fans and the respective organizations involved in this deal only increases as training camps and the 2026-27 NBA season draw closer.
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On Thursday, Torre came out with a new edition of his podcast, which looked into another alleged side deal for Leonard with Daktronics, the scoreboard, or “Halo Board,” maker for Intuit Dome.
BREAKING: Kawhi Leonard had a hidden, multimillion-dollar "sponsorship" with Clippers' scoreboard-maker, sources tell @PabloTorre.
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) August 7, 2026
"It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap," insider says.
In our investigation, Daktronics' Ballmer-linked crisis firm raises NBA probe ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LU1AeBAF44
At best, it’s another unusual deal for Leonard. But the optics, as is the case with much of what has been alleged, are seemingly difficult to reasonably explain on the surface.
This deal is almost certainly not news to the law firm conducting this investigation, but it does begin to peel the curtain back a bit as to why it is taking so long. And as more information continues to come out, concern is growing from Raptors fans who worry this could drag into the season or, worse, Leonard could have his contract voided.
A voided contract has always been the one thing that could stop this deal from going through. To this point, the expectation has been the Raptors would even be okay going through with the deal if Leonard was hit with a suspension. But his deal being voided would fundamentally nix any ability for the Clippers to trade him to Toronto or any team.
That said, the one thing not enough people are talking about as it pertains to this investigation and potential disciplinary action is what Esfandiar Baraheni of The Athletic pointed out on Thursday night.
When it comes to who is the likeliest to be punished for what has been alleged, it is reasonable to assume the Clippers organization and Steve Ballmer are at the very top of that list, with Leonard’s representation next and then he himself behind those two groups. While Leonard has an obligation to abide by the rules of the NBA’s CBA, Baraheni made a good point that he is under the guidance of his agent and general representation, which at the time of this alleged deal, included his uncle Dennis Robertson.
“The other part to this is that ultimately, Kawhi is acting under guidance from his representation,” Baraheni wrote on X. “That offers a layer of protection for him when it comes to any blame.”
This does not mean Leonard will not face discipline, and it doesn’t even mean there’s no possibility of him facing maximum punishment. But this line of thinking is something to consider when predicting the potential disciplinary action that could be taken.