Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard sidestepped questions on the Los Angeles Clippers' salary-cap scandal at media day, following the conclusion of a yearlong NBA investigation. Leonard, who led Toronto to the 2019 title, was traded back to the Raptors in a deal completed after the Clippers had been fined $30 million for circumventing the salary cap, with Los Angeles receiving Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-rounders in return. Pressed by reporters, the star kept it diplomatic. "I'm excited to be here. I know why some of you guys came. You want to hear about the investigation," Leonard said, before pointing to his talks with the league and the players' union. "But talking with the NBA and the PA, I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor."
The league found that Leonard's camp had pressured the Clippers into arranging off-court income deals with companies doing business with the club, and his former business manager, Dennis Robertson, was banned from dealing with NBA teams for five years as a result. Leonard was personally fined $700,000 and said he accepted full responsibility for lapses of judgement within his inner circle. With the saga finally behind them, the Raptors begin training camp with a full roster.
