LAS VEGAS — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters Tuesday that the league’s review of possible salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers should wrap up before summer’s end. He said Wachtell Lipton, the law firm handling the case, is “in the final stages” of evaluating the material it has collected.
The probe has taken on added importance since the Toronto Raptors reached a tentative agreement to acquire Leonard from the Clippers roughly two weeks ago. That deal remains on hold. Silver stressed that the league office did not freeze the transaction; the teams involved chose to wait until the investigation is complete because the outcome could affect Leonard’s contract. “They decided they didn’t want to live with that uncertainty,” he said, adding that both clubs were briefed on potential complications throughout the process.
Collective Bargaining Issues
Players Association leaders recently expressed interest in revisiting the rules tied to the second luxury-tax apron. Silver, however, said the current system “is working incredibly well,” noting that the latest collective bargaining agreement was designed to give every market a realistic shot at competing for a title.
Expansion Talks
Presentations regarding possible franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas were delivered during this week’s Board of Governors meeting, but no vote was taken. Silver expects a decision “one way or the other” by year’s end. Should the league add teams, play would begin in the fall of 2028.
Local Streaming Plans
The commissioner also revealed plans for a direct-to-consumer hub that would aggregate local game broadcasts, potentially launching in the 2027-28 season. With Main Street Sports Group—operator of regional broadcasts for 13 teams—shutting down earlier this year, Silver acknowledged uncertainty for the 2026-27 campaign. “We’ll cobble together a series of solutions for this season, but I feel good that we’ll have something on a national basis for the following year,” he said.
NBA Europe Progress
Silver offered a brief status report on the league’s European initiative, saying it is progressing as expected. Meetings with prospective ownership groups are scheduled in New York next week around the World Cup final, and bids from several interested cities are being finalized.
Moda Center Renovation Concerns
Regarding the Portland Trail Blazers’ negotiations with the city over Moda Center upgrades, Silver expressed concern that discussions have “gone off track.” A Portland City Council vote on Aug. 12 will determine whether $120 million in public funding is approved. City officials have reportedly sought more clarity from the team on how the money would be used.
Source: HoopsRumors
