Developing: The Los Angeles Clippers-Toronto Raptors trade centered on Kawhi Leonard will not be complete until the NBA investigation into the Clippers is over. Statement from the Clippers to ESPN:
For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues.
We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.
BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is declining his $27.7 million player option to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. This move gives the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade to form a Big 4.
REPORT: The Warriors want both LeBron James AND Anthony Davis;
“The Warriors are attempting to trade for Wizards big Anthony Davis and then sign Lakers free agent forward LeBron James, according to multiple league sources.”
(via @KevinOConnor / https://t.co/WoszWynW0g)
Insane: Since 2015, 29 NBA games have drawn over 14M viewers… Steph Curry was in 27 of them, per @boardroom. 🤯
The only other two? The WCF Finals Game 7 and Game 1 of the Finals of this year…
Victor Wembanyama’s agent says he refuses to do endorsement deals with soda companies
"They all want him, but Victor will never sell soda. Because he doesn’t want to kill the kids."
(Via @JaredWeissNBA / h/t @TheNBABase )
Let me just make this apparent for the new fans…
2016 Steph still and has always been the BEST peak for a guard in the last century. Never get that twisted. 🤐
.@Drake is officially the first artist in history to claim the top three spots on the #Billboard200 simultaneously:
1. 'ICEMAN'
2. 'HABIBTI'
3. 'MAID OF HONOUR'