Kawhi Leonard’s trade from the Clippers to the Raptors remains on hold due to front-office uncertainty following suspensions to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank. While Toronto is eager to finalize the deal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to publicly address the penalties next week.
Los Angeles Clippers were punished, front office members were suspended, Kawhi Leonard was fined, but his future still isn’t officially resolved.
Position
SF, SG
Age
35
Height
198 cm
Weight
102 kg
Birth place
Riverside, United States of America
As of now, his agreed trade to the Toronto Raptors isn’t officially confirmed yet.
Raptors motivated to make the deal happen
Marc Stein has reassured in his latest article that Raptors want to finish the deal as it was agreed upon earlier in the summer, but that the holdout has more to do with the Clippers:
“The Raptors, I’m told, are eager to consummate the trade after initially placing it on hold July 9 (to guard against a Leonard suspension or the outright voiding of his contract) and still firmly believe that the deal will happen as agreed upon and intended,” Stein started.
“Yet the delay has naturally led some league observers to wonder aloud whether the Clippers are holding off, or considering something even more drastic, to spite Leonard for so readily accepting the league’s punishment rather than invoking his right to pursue an appeal.”
“Any formal appeal within the NBA’s auspices in such matters, remember, must be initiated by the player in question rather than the team according to league by-laws.”
Reason for the holdout?
Stein revealed that the Clippers are still not sure about how will their front office look with suspensions to their owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.
“Multiple sources briefed on the situation nonetheless insisted to The Stein Line this week that Clippers continue to maintain that uncertainty about how their front office will function with owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months is the true cause of the holdup,” Stein said.
“How much longer will the holdup last? Leonard is in Miami with his would-be Raptors teammates at a mini-camp organized by Toronto’s players, but restricted to individual workouts rather than getting on the floor with the other Raptors since the trade hasn’t been consummated. Brandon Ingram has likewise been in the Clippers’ facility frequently in anticipation of the trade himself.”
Adam Silver’s first public reaction
Stein’s sources clarify that NBA commissioner Adam Silver will make his first public statement after the punishment next week.
Every season there is a press conference after the annual Board of Governors meeting where Silver will talk about numerous topics, including Kawhi and Clippers punishment.
“Barring an unexpected media interview that emerges in the next few days, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will publicly address the penalties he just assessed to the Clippers and Ballmer for the first time next week.”
“The league’s annual Board of Governors session in mid-September is just days away in Manhattan and the proceedings always include a Silver press conference to set up the season ahead,” Stein concluded.
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