Close Menu
Sports

Is Kawhi Leonard’s $28M deal below NBA investigation? Insider uncovers newest replace on Clippers’ controversial transfer

dramabreakBy No Comments4 Mins Read
Is Kawhi Leonard’s M deal below NBA investigation? Insider uncovers newest replace on Clippers’ controversial transfer


Following the revelations about Kawhi Leonard’s alleged NBA wage scheme, the NBA has launched a proper investigation, per NBA insider Shams Charania.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that the league is “conscious” of the studies of the LA Clippers circumventing the wage cap.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass tells ESPN: “We’re conscious of this morning’s media report relating to the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation.”

Within the newest episode of his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Pablo Torre mentioned that the Clippers and Leonard circumvented the NBA’s wage cap via a “no-show job” association. Torre alleged that Leonard agreed to a four-year, $28 million endorsement cope with Aspiration, a start-up firm funded by Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer.

Torre added that Leonard’s cope with Aspiration got here 9 months after he signed a four-year, $176.3 million most contract with LA in August 2021.

Citing the corporate’s paperwork Torre obtained, Leonard’s Aspiration deal had a clause that it could be voided ought to he go away the Clippers. An unnamed former Aspiration worker instructed Torre that Leonard’s fee was to “circumvent the wage cap.”

Torre mentioned Ballmer bestowed a $50 million funding in Aspiration on Sept. 14, 2021. Later that month, the Clippers introduced a sponsorship cope with the environmental start-up firm.

Beneath the NBA’s present collective bargaining settlement rule on circumvention, groups may very well be punished.

What would Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers high quality appear like?

Ought to the allegations show to be true, Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers might face hefty penalties.

Beneath Part 3 of Article XIII of the CBA, penalties embody fines as much as $7.5 million, forfeiture of future draft picks and suspensions to concerned workforce personnel for one 12 months. The participant might additionally obtain a $350,000 high quality from the league and the participant’s contract may very well be voided.

Within the earlier case of wage cap circumvention, the Minnesota Timberwolves had been discovered responsible of getting an under-the-table settlement with Joe Smith. Through the 1999-00 season, then-NBA commissioner David Stern issued a $3.5 million high quality, stripped 5 first-round picks and voided Smith’s contract.

As well as, Stern suspended Wolves proprietor Glen Taylor for 9 months and reportedly pressured then-general supervisor Kevin McHale to take a go away of absence.

Simply in case, listed below are the penalties when the Minnesota Timberwolves had been discovered to have circumvented the wage cap to signal Joe Smith: -5 first-round picks forfeited (two had been returned later) -$3.5M high quality -Smith’s most-recent contract was voided, and his Chicken Rights had been stripped

In response to the allegations, the Clippers mentioned in a press release to Torre that Steve Ballmer and the workforce should not concerned in any “misconduct.”

In 2025-26, Kawhi Leonard is about to look in his 14th NBA season and his sixth with the Clippers. In January 2024, the two-time NBA Finals MVP signed a three-year, $153 million deal to stay with LA till 2027.