Kawhi Leonard trade still on hold, but original deal expected to stand

The Kawhi Leonard trade has been waiting more than two months to become official. Apparently, it needs a little longer.

This time, though, the holdup isn’t Leonard. Per Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Clippers are still sorting through their front-office structure after owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank were suspended as part of the NBA’s cap-circumvention investigation.

General manager Trent Redden is expected to oversee basketball operations in Frank’s absence, while the Clippers also need an interim governor to replace Ballmer. The new decision-makers would then formally sign off on the Leonard trade with Toronto.

So, yeah, there’s some paperwork involved here. Just considerably more unusual paperwork than your typical NBA trade.

There had been speculation that the Raptors could use their newfound leverage to renegotiate the deal. Los Angeles forfeited five future first-round picks as part of the NBA’s punishment, making the two first-rounders coming from Toronto considerably more valuable to the Clippers than when the teams struck their agreement June 30.

Brian Windhorst, however, said on ESPN’s Hoop Collective that he’s been told not to expect any changes.

“I think that trade is going to go through, and I think it’s going to go through as is,” Windhorst said. “People say in the NBA, your word is important.”

As currently constructed, Toronto receives Leonard, while Los Angeles gets Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, two second-rounders and a 2027 first-round pick swap.

Leonard himself certainly seems to consider the matter settled. After the NBA announced its findings last week, he released a statement that began, “As I return to Toronto.”

That’s usually a pretty good indication of where this is headed.