Is this an eye-popping revelation or a whoop-de-damn-doo?
The investigation from podcaster Pablo Torre and his team seems to unveil Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard getting a side deal with a now-bankrupt company called Aspiration, ostensibly to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap a few years ago when he re-signed with the franchise in 2021.
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The investigation claims Aspiration received a sizable investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, and Aspiration then decided to pay Leonard $28 million over the life of that contract … to do nothing.
Considering Leonard’s history with injury-induced and preventative truancy, it’s easy to surmise he would have no problem collecting several million dollars a year in addition to his max contract to chill.
No harm, no foul, right?
Not quite, since the NBA is launching an investigation, which was expected given the value of the alleged deal.
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NBA spokesman Mike Bass told Yahoo Sports, “We are aware of this morning’s media report involving the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation.”
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The Clippers issued this statement to Yahoo Sports: “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 stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
Circumventing the salary cap is illegal in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Joe Smith tried to work around cap rules in an under-the-table move 25 years ago. Smith would sign three one-year deals at a lower-than-market rate so the Timberwolves would get his Bird Rights and then sign him to a massive deal on the back end.
In a lawsuit involving Smith’s agents, those details were unearthed — almost…
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