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Clippers Face Ongoing NBA Investigation, Leonard Trade Still On Hold

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 10:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Clippers Investigated

U.S. prosecutors in Brooklyn opened a criminal investigation of the Clippers.
The probe targets endorsement deals with Aspiration, Boingo, Daktronics and Lockton that have bypassed NBA salary cap.
NBA fined the Clippers $30 million, took five picks and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year.
NBA suspended executives Gillian Zucker and Lawrence Frank and required Kawhi Leonard to repay $700,000.
Leonard’s trade to Toronto remains on hold while the investigations continue.

Summary

Clippers Trade Block

The Clippers cannot finalize major moves, including the Leonard trade, without a new team governor.
Owner Steve Ballmer’s one-year suspension has sparked speculation that he may sell the franchise.
The Celtics are delaying a deal because they hold 2028 first-round swap rights with the Clippers.
The Clippers may target point guard Darius Garland in a trade to recover lost draft capital.

History

Historical Context

The NBA’s soft salary-cap, with its Larry Bird exception, has long allowed teams to exceed the limit but imposes a luxury-tax penalty. In 2005-06 the New York Knicks posted a $124 million payroll, paid $62.3 million in tax, and triggered league sanctions. That precedent underpins the 2024 investigation of the Los Angeles Clippers for alleged cap-bypassing.

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Clippers Investigated

U.S. prosecutors in Brooklyn opened a criminal investigation of the Clippers.
The probe targets endorsement deals with Aspiration, Boingo, Daktronics and Lockton that have bypassed NBA salary cap.
NBA fined the Clippers $30 million, took five picks and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year.
NBA suspended executives Gillian Zucker and Lawrence Frank and required Kawhi Leonard to repay $700,000.
Leonard’s trade to Toronto remains on hold while the investigations continue.

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