Once the Kawhi Leonard trade with Toronto is finalized, the Clippers plan to hold onto Brandon Ingram for a while rather than immediately trying to flip him for other players or draft picks, Jake Fischer said on Bleacher Report’s NBA Insider Notebook (video link, hat tip to BasketNews). Fischer confirms that the Clippers have informed the Raptors and all the players involved that they aren’t ready to complete the deal yet because they’re still figuring out the makeup of their front office in the wake of last week’s sanctions.

“I don’t think that’s anything being discussed at this moment right now (regarding Ingram),” Fischer said. “Could they potentially do that somewhere this season or further down the line? Certainly. But I’ve been given no indication that the Clippers are actively looking to move Brandon Ingram at this period.”

Ingram has been in Los Angeles working out with his new teammates, Fischer adds, and there’s an expectation that the trade will eventually get done in its current form. He states that Ingram does have “some retrade value” coming off an All-Star season with Toronto when he averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 77 games.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

• ESPN’s Anthony Slater offered an encouraging look at Jimmy Butler’s recovery from a torn ACL as part of a leaguewide update on injured stars. League sources tell Slater that Butler has displayed “notable progress,” but there’s still a lot of rehab work left to do. He’s expected to be limited to strength work and individual workouts when the Warriors open training camp later this month. Slater calls a return in January or February “an optimistic target,” adding that Butler has numerous checkpoints to hit to make that realistic.
• Slater hears from league sources that Kings center Domantas Sabonis is expected to be ready for the start of camp after having season-ending surgery in February to fix a partially torn left meniscus. He notes that Sabonis didn’t play for Lithuania last month in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers so he could finish his rehab work. Slater confirms that Sacramento explored trade possibilities involving Sabonis this summer and he was willing to be moved, but it’s anticipated that he’ll be the team’s starting center when the season begins.
• Ben Simmons’ veteran’s minimum contract with the Kings includes a $1MM guarantee if he’s still on the roster on opening night, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). In an appearance on Sactown Sports 1140 (YouTube link), Simmons’ godfather and former coach David Patrick said he expects the latest comeback attempt to be successful. “Being off a year and a half gives you a new lease on life, so to speak,” Patrick said. “It also takes less miles off your body, so he’s 30, but he’s basically a year and a half off in terms of the pounding of the NBA, and I think his hunger for the game is back.”