The NBA’s independent investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers could be coming to an end. According to a new ESPN story the NBA has found “no evidence” that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used outside companies to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard and also identified another company that might have been involved. The league has reportedly contacted the Clippers about this and the two sides are negotiating.
At least that’s according to ESPN.
The NBA, through the NBA Communications account on X, has issued a very brief statement disputing the ESPN report. Per the statement, “ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation – for which the NBA declined to cooperate – contains numerous and significant inaccuracies. The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.”
MORE: Speculation growing that Kawhi Leonard could face significant suspension
While ESPN said they had heard there was “no evidence,” they also weren’t reporting that the Clippers were in the clear. Via ESPN:
Instead, the NBA is focused on whether the team’s introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of the league’s rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention, two of the sources said. The league is examining whether the Clippers are guilty of “failure to supervise” employees, though it’s unclear what specific rule the team would have violated or what the penalties would be, two of the sources said.
Based on this it sounds like the Clippers could be in trouble for introducing Leonard to Aspiration. That doesn’t seem very serious if there’s no proof Ballmer used them to get money to Leonard. If there was no salary cap circumvention, then how can you punish the team for circumventing the salary cap? Those are the kinds of questions I’d be asking if the league was trying to fine me for something they apparently can’t prove I did.
Not to mention punishing a team for making an introduction doesn’t sound like it’s going to work out for the league:
One league insider with direct knowledge of league business said a salary cap circumvention penalty based on player introductions is “an outrageous overreach” and that “it’s the job of players’ agents to ask for introductions to sponsors and potential endorsers.” The person also said that if the league punishes the Clippers for introducing a player to a team sponsor, it “will be felt across the league — and players and their management won’t stand for it.”
MORE: Former NBA champion says players don’t care about $28 million Kawhi Leonard scandal
Another company named
According to ESPN the NBA presented the initial findings of the investigation in July, and the two sides have been negotiating ever since. Even when they do reach an agreement, it doesn’t sound like the story will end. Pablo Torre, who has already done 14 episodes about the cap circumvention case, posted an ominous message along with a screengrab of part of the ESPN article:
Thanks to Torre, we already know about Aspiration, Daktronics and a professional soccer team in Rhode Island. According to the ESPN article the latest company to be revealed in the investigation is Boingo Wireless.
This also makes it sound like Leonard might escape punishment, but who knows. Leonard and the Raptors are still operating like the trade between Toronto and the Clippers will be completed.
It’s amazing that we’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of learning about Aspiration. There’s just over a month until the regular season begins. We really have to be close to a conclusion to this story. Right?
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