Kawhi Leonard’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers is starting to look like it’s nearing the end. The star forward has missed more than 200 games since joining the team in 2019, and now an NBA investigation into his business ties is pushing the franchise toward a crossroads.
A former Clippers staffer told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes that the organization is no longer planning to build around Leonard. “They’re done,” the source said, reflecting a mood shift inside a team that once bent every rule of comfort to keep him on the floor.
The breaking point is a league probe into Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a financial firm that went bankrupt after taking heavy investments from team owner Steve Ballmer. The NBA is looking into whether those ties violated salary cap rules, a question that has executives around the league watching closely.
Could the Lakers Be Next?
While the Clippers weigh their future, Leonard appears set on staying in Los Angeles. A widely shared Instagram post from the account @Durant claimed that Leonard has “zero interest” in leaving the city. Instead, sources close to him reportedly say he would sign with the Lakers if Ballmer cuts ties.
The timing could make sense. The Lakers are still led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic, but front office insiders believe the team is positioning itself for another All-Star addition by 2026. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has said the Lakers have the cap flexibility to make a serious move, and Leonard’s local ties make him a natural fit.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are dealing with the fallout of their investment history. Corporate filings reviewed by The Athletic show more than $100 millionmoving from Ballmer, the Clippers, and related groups to Aspiration between 2021 and 2023. The overlap with Leonard’s endorsement checks has raised suspicions inside the league office.
The NBA has been strict about cases like this before. In 2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves lost five first-round draft picks after secretly arranging a deal with Joe Smith. If the Clippers are found guilty of salary cap circumvention, the penalties could include major fines, loss of draft picks, or even the voiding ofLeonard’s current contract.
For now, the investigation is expected to stretch beyond the 2026 All-Star Game, which will be hosted at the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome. That timeline leaves the franchise in limbo, with staffers pressuring Ballmer to move on before the damage grows.
Leonard is still wearing a Clippers jersey today. But with scandal hanging over the team and the Lakers ready to make their move, Los Angeles basketball may be headed for its biggest shake-up in years.
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