So… when will the Clippers finally send Kawhi Leonard to Toronto and close his turbulent stint?
With the NBA’s harsh ruling on the Clippers’ salary‑cap scheme still fresh, the reasons behind the lingering holdup have become a puzzle for insiders and league observers alike.
As a reminder, the Clippers struck a deal in late June that would net them Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first‑rounders, a first‑round swap and two second‑round picks for Leonard, but Toronto paused it on July 9 pending the league’s verdict, and now the Clippers appear to be the bottleneck.
Per league insiders, the Raptors, Leonard’s representatives and other key parties remain confident the trade will clear soon; Leonard is reportedly in Miami on an informal team retreat, while the Clippers cite the impact of the league’s discipline on their front office as the delay’s cause.
Their longtime president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, was suspended without pay for six months, and although many expected GM Trent Redden to step up, the club has stayed silent. In my view, the Clippers are buying time, and the Stein Line Substack first exposed the delay’s root.
If the deal materializes in the next day or two, these details will fade, yet the Clippers’ fierce reaction to the ruling and owner Steve Ballmer’s vow to fight back raise questions about what could follow.
Especially given Leonard’s pivotal role in shaping the trade narrative.
Still, all signs point toward the trade eventually happening—perhaps as early as next week, setting the stage for a dramatic roster shake‑up.