PRESS RELEASE
13 July 2026

Kawhi Leonard Trade Pause: Russell Sanders Weighs In On NBA Contract Investigation

AB
Aird & Berlis LLP

Contributor

Aird & Berlis is a leading Canadian law firm with offices in Toronto and Vancouver, serving clients across Canada and around the world. We provide strategic legal advice on business, regulatory, constitutional, administrative law and public policy matters. Our lawyers and intellectual property professionals represent domestic and international clients, including multinational corporations, startups, individuals, governments and Indigenous nations. Aird & Berlis advises clients in all principal areas of law, such as capital markets, corporate, financial services, real estate, Aboriginal law, projects & infrastructure, restructuring & insolvency, intellectual property, litigation, municipal, land use planning & development, tax, technology and workplace law. Aird & Berlis is recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms by national and international guides to the legal profession, including Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, The Legal 500, Lexology Index and Lexpert.
The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers announced a blockbuster trade involving all-star forward Kawhi Leonard, but the deal has been unexpectedly paused pending an NBA investigation into Leonard's 2024 contract with Los Angeles.
Canada

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers announced that the proposed trade that would bring all-star forward Kawhi Leonard to Toronto would be paused pending the outcome of an NBA investigation into Leonard’s 2024 contract with Los Angeles.

In a recent Canadian Press article, partner Russell Sanders commented on the latest development in the trade saga, noting that he would have expected the issue to have been vetted internally by both sides before the transaction was announced. He also said it would be surprising if the Raptors were required to assume any liability connected to conduct that occurred under another owner’s roof.

Sanders also referenced two significant salary-cap circumvention controversies from the NHL and NBA.To read the full article, click here.

Contributor

Aird & Berlis is a leading Canadian law firm with offices in Toronto and Vancouver, serving clients across Canada and around the world. We provide strategic legal advice on business, regulatory, constitutional, administrative law and public policy matters. Our lawyers and intellectual property professionals represent domestic and international clients, including multinational corporations, startups, individuals, governments and Indigenous nations. Aird & Berlis advises clients in all principal areas of law, such as capital markets, corporate, financial services, real estate, Aboriginal law, projects & infrastructure, restructuring & insolvency, intellectual property, litigation, municipal, land use planning & development, tax, technology and workplace law. Aird & Berlis is recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms by national and international guides to the legal profession, including Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, The Legal 500, Lexology Index and Lexpert.

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