Silver: Kawhi investigation must end before campaign starts

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shared that he remained “hopeful” the probe into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers for alleged salary cap circumvention would conclude during the offseason, revealing that the NBA was not responsible for holding up a reported exchange that would have sent the 7-time All-Star player to the Raptors.

The probe needs to be finished before the start of the next campaign,” Silver shared with the media. “It is going longer than I have anticipated, that’s without a doubt.”

The commissioner also shared that the NBA got weekly updates about the investigation, but he doesn’t know the firm’s conclusions because “it’s not finished yet.”

Kawhi was very close to returning to Toronto in a trade for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected 1^st-round draft selections in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 1^st-round selection swap, and 2 2^nd-round selections, but the exchange was on hold until the league’s probe was completed.

If the probe concludes that Kawhi broke the NBA’s salary cap rules, the league could void his deal or fine him up to almost half a million dollars.

More on this topic:

Adam Silver says NBA will “take its time” in Kawhi Leonard’s investigation

However, Silver claimed that the NBA did not pause the trade between the Clippers and the Raptors.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver on the completion of the external investigation by the league into allegations of salary cap circumvention in relation to the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard's trade to the Raptors is pending amid the current investigation. pic.twitter.com/KyZw2DTlhs

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2026