Torre Reveals 2nd Multi-Million Kawhi Deal as NBA Probe Threatens Clippers
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 8
Torre Reveals 2nd Multi-Million Kawhi Deal as NBA Probe Threatens Clippers
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 8
Summary
A newly detailed Daktronics sponsorship for Kawhi Leonard was never publicly announced and reportedly required no appearances or promotion, adding fresh evidence to the NBA's salary-cap circumvention probe.
Daktronics built the Clippers' Intuit Dome halo board, making it the second Clippers partner after Aspiration to be tied to an alleged off-books payment route to Leonard.
Pablo Torre said "everything should be on the table" for penalties against Leonard, the team and owner Steve Ballmer, though he sees a "very real chance" Ballmer avoids major punishment.
Adam Silver now faces pressure to decide whether the evidence warrants a tougher response against Ballmer and the Clippers, who were previously cleared in a separate 2019 Leonard recruitment investigation.
With a convicted fraudster cooperating, will the NBA uncover a massive shadow payroll system hidden within the Clippers' new arena?
Could a billionaire's secret arena deals force the NBA to void a superstar's contract and rewrite salary cap rules forever?
$300 Million Under the Table? The Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and the NBA’s Explosive Salary Cap Investigation
Overview
The NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers began with suspicions around a $28 million 'no-show' endorsement deal between Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration Partners, a company heavily funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. As Aspiration neared bankruptcy, more money was funneled in by Ballmer and co-owner Dennis Wong, with payments quickly routed to Leonard. The probe expanded after a second secret deal with Daktronics surfaced, leading the NBA to warn the Toronto Raptors about risks in a planned Leonard trade. This triggered a league-wide transaction freeze, and if violations are proven, the Clippers could face massive fines, lost draft picks, and Leonard’s contract being voided.