NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Gets Called Out for Delaying Kawhi Leonard’s Trade to Raptors

Back in late June, the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a trade deal. The Clippers were set to send Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and several future draft picks. However, nine days after verbally agreeing to the deal, the Raptors decided to put the trade on hold. This is due to Leonard's current investigation after allegedly circumventing the Clippers' salary cap.

The ongoing investigation is already 10 months old. Many have begun to question if there really is any illegal activity going on. Because of how long it's been since the issue, NBA insider Tim MacMahon called out NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for not taking any immediate action to end the situation.

"(Adam Silver) knew (the Kawhi Leonard investigation) needed to be wrapped up weeks ago," MacMahon said on NBA Today. "Now it's weeks later? It doesn't make sense. You can tell me you're not in charge of the investigation, but you're in charge of the league. It is time for a decision to be made. For there to be some clarity."

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer reportedly offered an endorsement deal worth $28 million to Leonard under his green banking company, Aspiration. Based on how the league views it, they're under the impression that it was Ballmer's way of paying Leonard extra cash outside of the team's salary cap.

Had the Raptors pushed through with the trade, they could've easily assumed the responsibility of Leonard's ongoing case. Having all that in mind, both the Clippers and Raptors are waiting for the verdict of the investigation. If the Clippers and Leonard turn out to be innocent, then we can expect the star forward to make his way back to Toronto next season.

Adam Silver Claims He Didn't Delay the Kawhi Leonard Trade

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been put on the hot seat after Kawhi Leonard's trade was delayed due to an ongoing investigation. Many believe that it was Silver who insisted on postponing any further transactions from happening and would rather focus on closing the case first before anything else.

However, in a recent press conference, Silver cleared the air and claimed that he has nothing to do with the postponement. The commissioner then noted how it was both the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors who mutually agreed to put their deal on hold.

"The league did not pause the trade," Silver said. "The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. The investigation needs to run its course."

According to reports, the investigation should be ending soon. The target is to come up with a verdict by this coming weekend. Until then, we don't know what will happen to the Clippers and Leonard if they're found guilty.