Clippers Reject Allegations of Salary-Cap Workaround Involving Kawhi Leonard
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Los Angeles — The Los Angeles Clippers said Wednesday that neither the team nor owner Steve Ballmer used a sponsorship arrangement to funnel extra money to star forward Kawhi Leonard, pushing back on a report that triggered an NBA investigation.
On the latest episode of the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, journalist Pablo Torre claimed Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement contract with Aspiration, a tree-brokerage firm that had been a Clippers sponsor before filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. Torre alleged the deal allowed Leonard to collect income beyond his NBA salary in a way that could have helped the club skirt the league’s salary cap.
The Clippers initially issued a brief denial to the Los Angeles Times and later released a lengthier statement through ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the team said.
According to the statement, Aspiration “defrauded not only Steve but numerous other investors and sports teams” before its bankruptcy filing. Company co-founder Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty in August to two counts of wire fraud tied to a $248 million scheme targeting Aspiration’s investors and lenders.
“There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team,” the Clippers added, emphasizing that Ballmer and the organization had no control over Leonard’s “independent endorsement agreement.”
The franchise said it “fully respects the league’s rules” and “welcomes” the NBA’s inquiry into the matter. The team also pledged to cooperate with law-enforcement officials investigating Aspiration’s alleged fraud.
Torre responded on social media, standing by his reporting and disputing parts of the Clippers’ statement.
Source: Hoops Rumors
