LAS VEGAS – Adam Silver didn’t expect to still be answering questions about the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and failed startup Aspiration in July 2026.
“It’s gone on longer than I would have hoped,” Silver said of the NBA’s investigation into the relationship between the three parties. “There’s no question about that.”
The NBA commissioner met with media on Tuesday after the annual Board of Governors meeting at Summer League. Silver is hoping for a ruling on whether the organization paid star player Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration as a way to circumvent the league’s salary cap.
A month ago, Silver said before the NBA Finals that the investigation was “far along” and said he would like to “wrap it up” in the near future.
Hours before Silver spoke, The Athletic reported that the league investigation has expanded into a potential second endorsement deal Leonard had with another company.
“My timeline remains this summer,” Silver said Tuesday night. “We all have an interest in wrapping this up. I’m hopeful it will wrap up this summer and that will continue to remain the goal here.”
Under the CBA, Silver has the ability to fine the Clippers $7 million, strip the team of its draft picks, and void Leonard’s contract, among other penalties.
Silver said Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the law firm the league hired for the investigation, is in the process of going through the information they’ve gathered and drawing conclusions off of it.
“I would hope this can be wrapped up—and needs to be wrapped up—before next season,” Silver said.
Silver’s comments came less than a week after the trade between the Clippers and Raptors that would send Leonard back to Toronto was paused until the investigation concludes. The NBA did not intervene in the transaction, Silver said. The Raptors would have inherited any possible punishment to Leonard from the investigation, and both parties decided to wait.
“They chose not to live with that uncertainty, but that was well-known before the trade was proposed,” Silver said. It’s not clear why the announcement that the trade was on hold and the Raptors would inherit any sanction took so long after the deal.
Trail Blazers Update
Silver said he spent time during the Board of Governors meeting with Trail Blazers governor Tom Dundon and his ownership group, which took control of the team in March.
The Moda Center, where the team plays has been the center of a public battle between Dundon and the city of Portland as Dundon has said he won’t pay for any upgrades.
In June, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson publicly pleaded with the city council to sign off on as much as $120 million in municipal funding to renovate the arena. A day later, Dundon did nothing to reduce fears of relocation when he appeared at an event put on by the Portland Metro Chamber and told attendees that private financing is not on his radar.
“It feels like we’re making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates,” Dundon said at the event, which was held at the Moda Center.
Silver visited Portland in March to help get a deal done and said he is trying to find a solution. But he didn’t say relocation was off the table Tuesday night.
“What we’re most focused on right now in the league office is the deal that we discussed when we were in Portland in March,” Silver said. “I was hoping more progress would have been made by now on that agreement and it seems to have gone off track in various ways. We’re working with both sides to ensure that the Trail Blazers have a long-term future in Portland. But there are several open issues that need to be resolved.”
Cathy Engelbert’s Job Security
Silver was also asked about WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who is in the middle of yet another challenging stretch.
Longtime radio host and former SportsCenter anchor Dan Patrick ripped Engelbert and the WNBA last week after the commissioner canceled an appearance on his show at the last minute.
“It’s just disappointing,” said Patrick. “… If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens! These are tough questions, but this is a fair outlet for you, a fair platform. I will treat you with respect.”
Engelbert has also been criticized for the league’s officiating this season, especially regarding Fever star Caitlin Clark.
Silver has been asked about Engelbert’s job security before, dating back to the labor talks that dominated this past offseason, and WNBA players have blasted Engelbert for her relationships—or lack thereof—with players.
Engelbert reports to Silver, who said that he’s received positive feedback about the new CBA that “reset economically, which was long overdue,” and the start to the season.
“Cathy and I work together and I don’t want to speak for Cathy,” Silver said. “But I’m very pleased with where the WNBA is. We made tremendous progress under her leadership over the last several years…Cathy continues to do a strong job building the league.”
