PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 27: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer, and the Los Angeles Clippers have found themselves in a bit of hot water. According to a report by Pablo Torre, Leonard was given a $28 million endorsement deal in which he did not have to truly endorse anything or show up anywhere.
According to Torre on his show “Pablo Torre Finds Out” this was a scheme by the Clippers majority owner in order to circumvent cap rules and ultimately lure the two-time champion to the Los Angeles Clippers. Allegedly, in 2021, when Leonard was a free agent being pursued by teams all around the league, the LLC for the company in which he signed this endorsement deal was established. This LLC was for a company called KL2 Aspire, a supposed tree-planting company that was funded by Steve Ballmer. Torre spoke to former employees of this now bankrupt company and obtained documents that he used in order to provide evidence that this endorsement deal was made in order to circumvent salary cap rules.
The penalties for an NBA team attempting to bypass the salary cap rules are immensely costly to that team. The last case we have of an NBA team being punished for trying to circumvent the salary cap rules are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who tried to bypass the salary cap rules in order to sign Joe Smith. In response to this offense, the NBA stripped them of their next five first-round draft picks, voided Smith’s contract and stripped the team of his bird-rights, fined them a record-setting $3.5 million, and suspended their owner Glen Taylor.
In response to the claims made by Torre, the Los Angeles Clippers sent him this quote.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false.”
These allegations have made national headlines and rightfully so, if these claims were to be confirmed by the NBA, the ramifications the Los Angeles Clippers would face would be catastrophic.