A hidden jumbotron deal? New details threaten to blow up Toronto’s blockbuster trade for the two-time Finals MVP
Just when it seemed like the Kawhi Leonard investigation couldn’t get any messier, it has.
The NBA probe currently freezing the blockbuster trade that would send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors has taken another dramatic turn and this time, of all things, it involves a scoreboard company.
The New Allegation: A Secret Jumbotron Deal
Investigative sports journalist Pablo Torre revealed on his podcast that Leonard allegedly had another secret, multi-million-dollar deal this time with jumbotron manufacturer Daktronics which the Los Angeles Clippers allegedly used to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.
A former high-level Clippers employee told Torre the arrangement was “1000 per cent a way to circumvent the salary cap.” What makes the claim even more eyebrow-raising: Leonard reportedly had a multi-million-dollar deal to serve as a spokesperson for Daktronics, despite the company having no history of using celebrity endorsements and operating as a strictly B2B business.
Daktronics’ Response? Silence.
When Torre’s team reached out to Daktronics about the relationship, a public relations representative said the company does not currently have a deal with Leonard and admitted they “don’t know” what to say given the ongoing NBA investigation. That’s not exactly a denial, and it’s the kind of non-answer that tends to fuel speculation rather than kill it.
This Isn’t the First Red Flag
The jumbotron allegation lands on top of an already-serious existing investigation. The NBA has been probing Leonard and the Clippers over a separate alleged salary-cap circumvention scheme involving a now-bankrupt third-party company. According to earlier reports, the Clippers allegedly arranged a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal for Leonard outside the salary cap when he signed a four-year, $176 million extension in 2021.
Under league rules, players are barred from receiving compensation through outside endorsement deals that fall outside the salary cap meaning if proven, either allegation could represent a serious violation.
What’s at Stake for the Raptors
This isn’t just an off-court scandal it directly threatens one of the biggest trades in franchise history. Toronto and Los Angeles agreed to a deal on June 30 that would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), and two second-round picks (2030 and 2033) to the Clippers in exchange for Leonard. That trade remains on hold while the NBA completes its investigation.
The Nightmare Scenario for Toronto
Here’s where it gets even messier for Raptors fans. If Leonard’s contract is voided as a result of the investigation, the trade could be scrapped entirely sending Ingram, Dick, and all those draft picks right back to Toronto, while the Clippers would be left without Leonard altogether. Leonard would then become a free agent, leaving the Raptors to decide from scratch whether they still even want to pursue him.
When Will This Be Resolved?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously said he hoped the investigation would wrap up before the start of the 2026-27 season, but that timeline is looking increasingly shaky. Several reports now suggest the process could drag on well past the season opener given the legal complexities involved.
The Bottom Line
What started as a superstar trade is now tangled in one of the messiest cap-circumvention investigations the league has seen in years. Until the NBA reaches a conclusion, the Raptors and their fans are stuck in limbo, watching a franchise-altering deal hang in the balance over allegations involving no-show endorsements and, now, a scoreboard company.
Think the trade survives this? Sound off below.
