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The Los Angeles Clippers are prepared to keep Kawhi Leonard if his trade to the Toronto Raptors does not go through, according to Ramona Shelburne, leaving the franchise with a contingency plan as the NBA’s investigation into Leonard’s contractual situation continues.

“If this trade doesn’t go through, if for some reason Toronto doesn’t want to proceed with it until they know the investigation, Clippers are fine with Kawhi Leonard being back on their team,” Shelburne said on ESPN LA.

The reported Leonard trade remains in limbo because of the NBA investigation involving an undisclosed sponsorship arrangement between the Clippers and Leonard. Toronto has agreed to acquire Leonard but wants assurances that he will not face the maximum possible penalty of having his contract voided before signing off on the transaction.

Josh Lewenberg reported that the Raptors are not necessarily waiting for the investigation and legal process to be fully completed. Instead, Toronto needs sufficient clarity on the potential punishment Leonard could face.

That uncertainty has kept the Clippers’ offseason plans unresolved. The proposed deal would send Leonard to Toronto, with Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, including a 2027 pick swap, and two second-round selections reportedly heading to Los Angeles.

Keeping Leonard would give the Clippers a dramatically different roster picture after he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 65 games during the 2025-26 season. The seven-time All-Star shot 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range while earning All-NBA Second Team honors.

The Clippers finished 42-40 and ninth in the Western Conference last season, reaching the Play-In Tournament but falling well short of the franchise’s championship ambitions. Leonard remained their most productive player, posting a 57.3% effective field-goal percentage while averaging 32.1 minutes per game.

Los Angeles has already made moves based on the expectation that its roster could change. The Clippers have brought back Bradley Beal, added Rui Hachimura, Max Strus and rookie Keaton Wagler while also reshaping a roster that saw John Collins and Bennedict Mathurin depart.