Throughout the 2025-26 season, the NBA has been investigating a potential salary cap circumvention scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, owner Steve Ballmer, and the Aspiration company, first uncovered by investigative journalist Pablo Torre.
While the results of the investigation and impending punishment by the league are yet to be seen, there is a prevailing thought that the NBA could void Leonard’s contract with the Clippers. With that, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be waiting in the wings with massive cap space, having a strong chance to land the two-time Finals MVP if he becomes a free agent.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha discussed how, with LeBron James on the way out, and Leonard’s seeming interest in staying in Los Angeles, the Lakers could be a top target for the star forward, having arguably one of the best seasons of his career.
“Either scenario of Kawhi is forced to be traded or his contract is voided and he is a free agent, no one has more cap space this summer than the Lakers,” Buha said on his YouTube show. “So the Lakers are in a prime position. Living in LA for the past six years, I don’t know if he would want to relocate…That could put the Lakers in a position to acquire him or sign him.”
In his previous free agency in 2019, Leonard wanted to go to Los Angeles, but apparently had no interest in joining the Lakers. Instead, he arrived at the Clippers, but since then, his tenure with the franchise hasn’t exactly gone as planned.
Lakers Could Land Kawhi Leonard This Offseason
There are a few moving parts to any potential future involving Leonard and the Lakers, and while it remains to be seen what will happen with the investigation involving the salary cap circumvention accusations, the links between the two are real.
Previously, Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports said that with the Lakers’ offseason salary cap space, they could be a landing spot for Leonard should the NBA choose to void his Clippers’ contract.
“The interesting thing on that is it provides a conundrum where I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re now going to see a frenzy for his services, with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors or the New York Knicks—they would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent.”
Additionally, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron expressed a similar sentiment, writing that Leonard would be one of the team’s dream offseason targets. The team is expected to have the most cap space in the NBA this summer, and, as Buha said, that doesn’t guarantee Leonard will be their first free agent target; it certainly shouldn’t rule them out.
“Now, the Lakers can bid high. They have three picks, and they have the cap space,” he added. “So maybe that’s enough to entice the Clippers, depending on what that potential trade package looks like. But for now, I think it’s just noise, and until we have clarity on what the potential punishment is going to be, I think it’s nothing more than that.”
Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard reported that instead of the punishment being centered around Ballmer and the Clippers, Leonard’s contract could be targeted. It is still uncertain what will happen with the investigation, but if that does become the case, the Lakers should be a team to keep an eye on.
“A lot of rumors of the Clippers thing about to come down. I heard it’s gonna be Kawhi-centric…The
Lakers Offseason Salary Cap Space And Free Agent Targets
If the whole voided Leonard contract aspect of this situation becomes true, the only real reason the Lakers would be targeting the future Hall of Fame wing is because of the expected cap space the franchise will have this summer.
In the case that James leaves and the Lakers resign Austin Reaves to a near-max contract extension, the team is still expected to have roughly $50 million in offseason cap space to sign free agents.
Writing for ESPN, insider Dave McMenamin named a few players Los Angeles is expected to target with their available money.
“An unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise. Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile,” he wrote. “The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the Lakers’ top trade target, and as they would have three movable first-round picks, they have emerged as a top candidate to land the 2021 Finals MVP.
Even if the Lakers can’t land any of the previously named players in particular, with James likely on the way out and the front office shifting to a new era led by Luka Doncic and Reaves, the team is expected to be busy this offseason, pairing the two young guards with more talent than is currently seen on the roster now, whether that be Leonard, Antetokounmpo, or anyone else.
Lakers Get Major Update On Kawhi Free Agency Links Amid Salary Cap Scandal