The Clippers could actually lose Kawhi Leonard? That has been the focal question during the NBA’s ongoing investigation of Steve Ballmer allegedly circumventing the salary cap through Aspiration. If proven guilty, the ‘Klaw’ having his contract voided is surely a possibility. But has that step already been taken?

A tweet is going wild about the same. “BREAKING: The Clippers have parted ways with Kawhi Leonard, per @WindhostESPN,” it says. Those aware of NBA Twitter might have already guessed the source. It came from NBA Centel, a parody page infamous for posting false information around the league. And the most obvious aspect of this being false news is the spelling mistake in “Windhorst”.

Moreover, it’s well known at this point that Adrian Wojnarowski isn’t the biggest insider in the NBA anymore. That job is now bestowed upon Shams Charania, who would have been on top of this news had it been true. Furthermore, it’s crucial to note that the NBA has only just begun its investigation into the Clippers’ dealings with Aspiration, their former franchise sponsors who filed for bankruptcy in March 2025.

However, Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard, or the Clippers haven’t made it out of the burning building just yet.

Pablo Torre, the journalist who first brought these allegations to light, is going all-out in trying to prove his allegations. There’s been a hoard of circumstantial evidence, including former employees confessing to the nature of Leonard’s deal with Aspiration. Furthermore, Clippers’ minority co-owner Dennis Wong’s $1.99 million investment is also another brainteaser in the matter. But be sure, the investigation isn’t going to conclude in the coming days.

In such severe cases, the league will have to dig thoroughly. Only after a careful check and other procedures will there be a judgment. That could extend into the season, or further, depending on the pile of evidence and documents the authorities will have to go through. As far as Leonard being forced out of LA, it can happen.

But that could mount an entirely new problem for Adam Silver and the NBA.

The problem with Kawhi Leonard being a free agent

Let’s just consider a hypothetical. Say, after months of detailed investigation, the league does find strong evidence against the Clippers, hefty punishment will follow. If the Joe Smith case was a reference, frozen draft picks and fines will hit Ballmer. But there’s a possibility that Leonard’s contract gets voided, and he becomes a free agent.

But how does the NBA handle that?

Naturally, he will be restricted from re-signing with the Clippers. So essentially, most teams will be able to add a two-time Finals MVP for the price they desire. Leonard could sign for just a single year on a minimum contract. But is that fair to the competitive balance Silver is aiming for in the modern era? Because, despite his injury history, having Leonard catapults the chances of winning.

Imagine the Houston Rockets, who just added Kevin Durant, get the two-time DPOY right before the playoffs. It would completely dismantle the Western Conference power rankings, no matter which team is put against them. Hence, it seems Leonard’s parting ways with the Clippers is an unlikely scenario. Even if there are punishments, they will burden the Clippers’ future. Leonard might be required to pay a fine for his involvement, but making him a free agent would be unfair to the rest of the teams that won’t be signing him.

For now, these are just speculations. Until the league’s investigation is active, nobody is in trouble. Judging from everything that’s known, how do you think this situation will play out? Let us know your views in the comments below.