The NBA announced it will be investigating the Los Angeles Clippers after a report accusing the team of orchestrating a deceptive endorsement deal to sign star forward Kawhi Leonard.
The NBA has announced that it will be investigating the Los Angeles Clippers following a report from podcast host and journalist Pablo Torre. Torre accused the team of orchestrating a deceptive endorsement deal to sign then-free agent star forward Kawhi Leonard, circumventing the NBA’s salary cap, according to reports from CNN.
In an episode of his podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” the journalist alleged on Wednesday that he gained access to more than 3,000 pages of internal documents and spoke with multiple unnamed sources.
The documents and sources supposedly led to a conclusion of an alleged 2022 scheme to pay Leonard $28 million over four years. This would avoid the NBA’s salary restrictions.
The episode also included audio from a reported former employee of a now-defunct company known as Aspiration Partners, Inc., which fronted the money to pay Leonard without the league’s awareness.
NBA spokesperson Mike Bass told CNN Sports about the league’s response and seriousness regarding how they’re handling these allegations.
“We are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation.”
The anonymous individual on Torre’s podcast stated that they “didn’t so much discover it [the deal] as I was told about it.”
“‘Oh, by the way, we also have a marketing deal with Kawhi Leonard, for $28 million, an organic marketing sponsorship deal with Kawhi,’” the individual also discussed being told about the overall arrangement and how Leonard would not need to do anything in return for the money.
“(I was told) If I had any questions about it, essentially don’t (ask), because it was to ‘circumvent the salary cap. LOL,’” the person said.
Torre also claimed that Steve Ballmer, the team’s owner, invested $50 million in Aspiration in 2021, however, it was unclear what the potential direct connection is between the owner and the alleged deal with Leonard.
The Clippers also issued a statement to The Athletic, which hosts the podcast from Torre.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary-cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.”
“Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stands ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
Aspiration is known for being a “financial technology and sustainability services company.” They filed for bankruptcy in March.
Torre also produced an obtained document on his podcast that shows KL2 Aspire LLC as a creditor due to a reported $7 million. KL2 Aspire LLC is allegedly owned by Leonard.
The co-founder of Aspiration Partners, Inc. agreed last month to plead guilty to defrauding investors and lenders, which resulted in more than $248 million in losses, according to the US Department of Justice.
Leonard initially joined the Clippers in 2019 and later signed extensions with the team in 2021 for a reported four-year, $176 million deal, and again in 2024.
The NBA’s 2023 collective bargaining agreement states that if a team is found to have bypassed the salary cap, it can be issued penalties, including a fine up to $7.5 million, voided contracts, and forfeiture of future draft picks.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
