The Raptors' agreement to reacquire Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers is still unofficial nine days after it was struck, after the NBA announced Thursday that it is investigating whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling money to Leonard through a no-show endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt firm Aspiration. There is no timeline for the investigation to wrap, only that it is expected to conclude "in the coming weeks."
That delay matters more than the trade details, which already have Toronto sending out Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple first-round picks for a 35-year-old on an expiring deal. Leonard has already hired a new agent to begin extension talks worth up to $123.7 million over two years, which tells you the player thinks this closes; watch whether the league's timeline agrees with his.