NBA commissioner Adam Silver says Clippers probe should wrap up before the regular season begins
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- NBA commissioner Adam Silver says an independent probe into whether the Clippers skirted the salary cap with a $28-million Kawhi Leonard endorsement deal should conclude this summer.
- The investigation focuses on a deal with Aspiration, a company heavily backed by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
- The Clippers’ blockbuster trade sending Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft picks is on hold, as the Raptors wait for clarity on potential contract penalties.
LAS VEGAS — NBA commissioner Adam Silver reiterated Tuesday night after the Board of Governors meeting that the investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through an endorsement deal he allegedly never fulfilled is still underway.
Silver said his “timeline remains this summer” to make the findings known after high-powered New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz wraps up its investigation.
The probe centers on a $28-million endorsement deal to Leonard from the now-defunct digital banking company Aspiration that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million into.
Silver was asked about a timeline for the NBA to announce the results of the investigation that began 10 months ago.
The NBA informed Toronto that it would assume any penalties handed down if wrongdoing is found in Leonard’s endorsement deal.
“As you know, I am not conducting the investigation, nor is the league office,” Silver said. “It’s being conducted by the Wachtell law firm, independent of the league. Of course, as I have said previously, we all have an interest in wrapping this up and as I most recently said in an interview, that I’m hopeful that it will wrap up this summer so that will continue to be the goal here.”
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks June 30. Leonard, who spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers, led the Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019. Last week the Raptors put the trade on hold until the investigation concludes.
“I just want to clarify, so everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said. “The parties that did the trade made the decision not to go forward given that the investigation would remain open and the possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known and so they chose not to live with that uncertainty.
“But that was well-known before the trade was proposed and I didn’t think there was any reason for people to believe that the status of Kawhi Leonard would change merely because he was traded. The investigation needs to run its course.”
Bill Plaschke writes that oft-injured, apathetic and entitled Kawhi Leonard has collected nearly $300 million of Steve Ballmer’s money and burned it.
The Clippers have consistently denied any wrongdoing in their dealings with Aspiration, whose co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in prison June 2 for defrauding investors and lenders of over $248 million. Ballmer has said he was a victim of the fraud.
Silver didn’t address whether Leonard is being investigated for any other side deals. The Athletic reported Tuesday that according to anonymous sources the investigation has grown in scope, examining whether Leonard had a previously unreported endorsement deal with another company and whether the Clippers were not properly reimbursed for Leonard’s expenses.
“I don’t know specifically what will be in the report,” Silver said. “To the best of my information, the report is not done. I do get regular updates from our general counsel, who is Rick Buchanan, and he deals on a weekly basis with who they are talking to and what they are finding on a preliminary basis.
“But my understanding is that Wachtell is now in the process of going through the information they’ve gathered and drawing conclusions from that information. And I think, yes, it is realistic to think that this can be wrapped up — and I would say needs to be wrapped up — before the beginning of next season.”
The NBA regular-season schedule will be announced in August with the season expected to begin in mid-October.
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