Tag: Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard Agrees to $115 Million Extension With Raptors

Brandon King

Kawhi Leonard is staying in Toronto. The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the seven-time All-Star, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The agreement also includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Leonard’s agent, Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports, confirmed the agreement to ESPN. The extension comes just days after Toronto officially reacquired Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster trade that sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-round picks to Los Angeles.…

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Steve Ballmer Changes Course, Says Clippers Will Accept NBA Punishment

Brandon King

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is changing his approach to the NBA’s punishment of the franchise. In a statement released Sunday, Ballmer said the Clippers will accept the league’s sanctions and move forward rather than continue fighting the NBA over the findings. The change in tone comes after the Clippers previously indicated that they intended to challenge the league’s conclusions. Ballmer said he accepts responsibility as the Clippers’ principal owner and apologized to Clippers fans, employees and his fellow NBA owners. Ballmer: Time to Move Forward Ballmer’s latest statement…

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ESPN’s Kawhi Leonard Report Is Under Major Scrutiny After NBA Drops Hammer on Clippers

Brandon King

Just weeks ago, ESPN reported that the NBA had found “no evidence” that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to Kawhi Leonard to circumvent the league’s salary cap. Now, the NBA’s completed investigation has produced a dramatically different picture. The league announced Wednesday that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling millions of dollars to Leonard through third-party companies, including Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance. The consequences were enormous: The NBA’s investigative report says Ballmer, Zucker and Frank played roles in connecting Leonard with…

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NBA Punishes Clippers With Historic Draft-Pick Penalty as Kawhi Leonard Breaks Silence

Brandon King

The NBA has handed down sweeping penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers following its investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, resulting in one of the most significant punishments in league history. The Clippers have been ordered to forfeit five first-round draft picks, losing their selections in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA Drafts. The league also suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for their respective roles in the matter. Kawhi Leonard Issues Statement Leonard,…

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NBA Finds No Evidence Steve Ballmer Funneled Sponsor Money to Kawhi Leonard

Brandon King

The NBA has reportedly found no evidence that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard and circumvent the league’s salary cap. According to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne, the NBA’s investigation found no evidence that Ballmer used Clippers sponsors as a way to provide Leonard with additional compensation outside of his NBA contract. The investigation stemmed in part from Leonard’s business relationship with Aspiration, a now-defunct sustainable financial services company that previously partnered with the Clippers. The…

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BREAKING: Report Alleges Kawhi Leonard Had Multimillion-Dollar Sponsorship Deal With Clippers Scoreboard Manufacturer

Brandon King

A new report has added another twist to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s relationship with the Los Angeles Clippers. According to Pablo Torre, Leonard allegedly had a secret multimillion-dollar sponsorship agreement with the company that manufactured the scoreboard inside the Clippers’ arena. The reported arrangement has quickly gone viral on social media, with fans joking that even the arena’s scoreboard was part of Leonard’s endorsement portfolio. The claim arrives amid continued attention surrounding the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league’s salary cap through benefits provided to…

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Report: Raptors Unwilling to Complete Kawhi Leonard Trade Amid Ongoing NBA Investigation

Brandon King

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly refusing to complete a trade involving Kawhi Leonard because of concerns over potential NBA penalties tied to the league’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Toronto is unwilling to assume the risk while the NBA continues to examine allegations that the Clippers may have circumvented salary cap rules in connection with payments made to Leonard. “They are not willing to assume those risks,” Shelburne said. The NBA’s investigation remains ongoing, and the league has not announced any findings or…

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Kawhi Leonard Trade to Raptors Delayed Pending NBA Investigation into Clippers

Brandon King

The blockbuster trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold as the NBA continues its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, creating uncertainty around one of the offseason’s biggest moves. According to ESPN, the deal agreed to in principle on June 30 cannot be finalized until the league concludes its investigation. The delay stems from the NBA requiring Toronto’s ownership group to assume any potential financial penalties tied to Leonard’s contract that could result from the investigation. In a statement released to ESPN, the Clippers said…

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Mavericks, Clippers Discuss Potential Blockbuster Deal Centered on Kawhi Leonard

Brandon King

The Dallas Mavericks are exploring the possibility of bringing Kawhi Leonard back to Texas. According to multiple league sources cited by The Athletic, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri has interest in reuniting with Leonard. The two previously enjoyed tremendous success together with the Toronto Raptors, culminating in the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2019. League sources say the Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers have discussed a trade framework that would send Leonard to Dallas. In return, the Clippers would receive a package centered around P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and draft-pick…

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New Balance unveils the Kawhi 5

Brandon King

The New Balance Kawhi 5 is officially here. New Balance has unveiled the latest installment in the signature line of Kawhi Leonard, continuing to build a performance model that mirrors his methodical, two-way dominance on the court. Designed for stability, controlled movements, and explosive bursts, the Kawhi 5 reflects Leonard’s signature playing style—calculated yet powerful on both ends of the floor. Two colorways have been revealed at launch: a green-based look and a blue iteration. Both feature a mesh and synthetic construction, highlighted by a prominent “N” logo on the…

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