NBA Retains Wachtell Lipton to Probe Kawhi Leonard–Aspiration Sponsorship
nba-retains-wachtell-lipton-to-probe-kawhi-leonard-aspiration-sponsorship
The NBA has hired New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to examine Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard’s four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt environmental finance company.
The Athletic reported that bringing in Wachtell Lipton signals the league’s serious approach to allegations that the contract was structured to steer money to Leonard while avoiding salary-cap rules. Several Aspiration employees told the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast the deal was effectively a no-show job.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has denied any misconduct, stating his role was limited to introducing Leonard to Aspiration executives in 2021. “These were guys who committed fraud. They conned me,” Ballmer told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Wachtell Lipton previously led two major NBA ownership investigations: the 2014 probe into Donald Sterling’s racist comments that resulted in Sterling selling the Clippers, and the 2022 inquiry into Robert Sarver’s workplace conduct, which preceded Sarver selling the Phoenix Suns.
League investigators have begun interviewing Leonard, Ballmer and Aspiration officials while reviewing documents for evidence of possible salary-cap circumvention, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The effort mirrors the late-1990s investigation that cost the Minnesota Timberwolves multiple first-round picks after the Joe Smith contract scandal.
The combination of Aspiration’s bankruptcy, the size of the sponsorship and questions about cap compliance ensures continued scrutiny of the Clippers as the inquiry progresses.
Source: Hoops Wire
