Clippers' Leadership Vacuum Holds Up Kawhi Leonard Trade
The Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto remains stalled due to the Clippers' suspended leadership and uncertainty over who can approve the deal, with reports
The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold more than a week after the NBA fined Leonard $700,000. The league concluded its investigation into salary cap circumvention by the Clippers, but the deal first agreed upon June 30 has not been finalized.
The Raptors initially paused the trade due to uncertainty over Leonard's potential punishment. Now, with the penalty known, the completion of the deal depends on the Clippers. Marc Stein reports that some league observers wonder if the Clippers are delaying out of frustration. Leonard accepted the fine without appeal, a move that reportedly increased tension with the team.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst called the Clippers' approach "purposeful inaction." He suggested it could be a tactic to negotiate with the league ahead of owners' meetings next week.
Leadership Suspensions Create Logjam
The primary holdup is the Clippers' suspended leadership. Owner Steve Ballmer, president of business operations Gillian Zucker, and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank are all suspended. To finalize the trade, the team must appoint a new head of basketball operations and a new acting governor, both requiring NBA approval.
General manager Trent Redden is expected to be named the head of basketball operations. The acting governor role is more complicated. The team's listed alternate governors are the suspended Gillian Zucker and co-owner Dennis Wong. Wong was named in the Aspiration reports that spurred the NBA's investigation, which may complicate league approval.
A Unique and Challenging Ownership Structure
The Clippers' ownership structure is unusually small for the modern NBA. Most teams have numerous minority owners. The Clippers have only Steve Ballmer and Dennis Wong, with Gillian Zucker as president of business operations. This limits options for appointing an acting governor.
This structural challenge is compounded by the organization's reported frustration with the NBA's ruling. Stein notes the leadership uncertainty is the Clippers' official reason for the delay. Windhorst adds it may be a negotiating tactic to seek a more favorable outcome with the league and avoid a lawsuit.
Waiting Game in Toronto and Miami
While the front-office drama plays out in Los Angeles, the Raptors and Kawhi Leonard are in a holding pattern. Leonard is currently in Miami for a player-led pre-training camp gathering. He awaits the green light to make his official return to Toronto.
The Raptors, who initially hesitated due to the investigation, now find themselves waiting on the Clippers to complete the trade they agreed to over two months ago.
