Mavs Owner Mark Cuban Congratulates Journalist Who Found Out Kawhi Leonard, Clippers Salary Cap Scandal After NBA Ruling

The Kawhi Leonard investigation into circumventing the salary cap has finally come to a close after nearly a year. Back in September 2025, sports journalist Pablo Torre reported that Leonard was involved in illegal endorsement arrangements facilitated by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, allowing him to receive money outside the team’s salary cap.

Since then, the NBA has taken immediate action and thoroughly investigated the situation. Fast forward to the present day: Ballmer was suspended for a year, while Leonard was fined $700,000.

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban, who had initially supported Ballmer and opposed Torre's claims, went on social media and seemed to backtrack on his stance, congratulating Torre for cracking the case.

"Congrats Pablo," Cuban wrote on X on Wednesday.

Despite the circumstances, Leonard is surprisingly still getting traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers, however, have taken a major hit. The NBA has stripped them of five first-round picks and fined team owner Steve Ballmer $30 million.

Leonard has to pay $700,000 in restitution, but he's not expected to face suspension, nor will his contract with the Clippers be voided.

Aside from Ballmer, President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank will both face suspensions. NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Frank and Zucker will be on leave without pay.

"Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year for being primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for providing false and misleading statements to investigators," Charania wrote on Instagram.

"Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Mr. Leonard and his family," Charania added.

The future now looks bleak for the Clippers. While their initial intention was to rebuild after letting go of Leonard, it seems that the implosion of the front office might hinder them from doing so.

NBA Insider Believes Clippers Can Regain Lost Ground By Trading Kawhi Leonard to Raptors

One of the biggest head-turners in the league right now is Kawhi Leonard. He has taken responsibility for a lapse in judgment in the case, but a $700,000 fine is a slap on the wrist for a player of his caliber, who will earn millions in his new trade with the Raptors, which was supposed to take place in June before being halted due to the ongoing investigation.

But NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly allowed the trade between the LA Clippers and Raptors to take place despite the situation. With Kawhi going back to the Raptors, NBA insider Brian Windhorst thinks the Clippers can still get plenty of value from the Raptors and reduce the damage caused by the loss of five first-round picks.

"If they (the Clippers) are indeed allowed to trade Kawhi Leonard, and there's nothing in today's ruling that would prevent them from doing so, they can instantaneously recruit 2 first-round draft picks for him (from the Raptors). They can get value for him," Windhorst said on SportsCenter.

Given how Leonard is technically 1-0 with the Raptors after winning them a championship in 2019 in his only season with the team, it'll be interesting to see if he can replicate a similar result this coming season.