Clippers Deny Allegations of $28 Million Payment to Kawhi Leonard for Non-Existent Role
Los Angeles,CA – The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve ballmer have vehemently denied accusations that star forward Kawhi Leonard received $28 million for a position that never existed,a claim brought to light by journalist Pablo Torre on Wednesday. The allegations center around a purported scheme to circumvent the NBA‘s salary cap regulations.
According to Torre’s reporting,detailed in his podcast and based on reviewed legal documents,Ballmer allegedly utilized a now-defunct tree-planting company,Aspiration,to funnel funds to KL2 Aspire,LLC – a company owned by Leonard. Aspiration, partially funded by Ballmer, reportedly entered into a $28 million agreement with Leonard’s company.Torre’s investigation found no evidence of Leonard performing any work for Aspiration. The contract between the two entities allegedly included a clause permitting payment to Leonard irrespective of work performed, and another stipulating the deal’s cancellation should Leonard depart the Clippers. A former Aspiration employee reportedly indicated the arrangement was intended to “circumvent the salary cap.”
In a statement provided to Torre, the Clippers and Ballmer dismissed the allegations as false. “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the statement read. “Any contrary assertion is provably false.”
The NBA previously investigated Leonard’s advisor, Dennis Robertson, in 2019 during Leonard’s free agency, ultimately finding no evidence the Clippers had provided the player with impermissible benefits. Leonard, a six-time All-Star, signed with the Clippers in July 2019 following a championship run with the Toronto Raptors.
The NBA has not yet commented on Torre’s recent report, but has stated it would revisit the investigation into Robertson should new evidence surface.
Violations of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement regarding salary cap circumvention can result in penalties including fines of up to $4.5 million and the forfeiture of a first-round draft pick. The league will likely be under pressure to investigate these new claims thoroughly.
