Because the mud settles from the preliminary bombshell report by sportswriter Pablo Torre, it is clear that the L.A. Clippers might be in deep trouble. Torre stories that Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer allegedly arrange an organization named Aspiration to pay star Kawhi Leonard an additional $48 million.
Unique: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a “no-show job” with a fraudulent tree-planting firm funded by $50M from Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer, based on paperwork obtained by @PabloTorre.
“It was to bypass the wage cap,” an inside supply says. pic.twitter.com/F6z5pNEkI1
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 3, 2025
Hello. PTFO can now affirm that Aspiration gave Kawhi a secret $20M side-deal, as first reported by @BostonSportsBSJ.
Mixed with Kawhi’s secret $28M no-show endorsement deal: that’s $48M.
PTFO beforehand reported that Steve Ballmer’s private Aspiration funding was… $50M.
— Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) September 5, 2025
That’s along with the $175 million extension that he signed again in 2021. Ballmer, in his protection, responded to questions surrounding the report, although there are issues that merely do not make sense.
“They know the foundations. They, which means Kawhi and his representatives, together with his uncle. We all know the foundations.”
L.A. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer talks to @ramonashelburne concerning the allegations in opposition to the group involving the Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration deal. pic.twitter.com/Har1uHJCtt
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 5, 2025
Initially is the truth that Leonard was paid $28 million and given $20 million extra in inventory choices from an organization that did not require him to truly endorse them. Think about working at a job the place you do not have to point out up and receives a commission a surprisingly giant wage. That does not occur. Yeah, it is honest for alarm bells to be raised.
The NBA might drop the hammer on the L.A. Clippers
The NBA has reportedly employed a legislation agency to analyze Ballmer and the Clippers. In the event that they discover wrongdoing, then they might come down laborious on the Clippers. Yahoo Sports activities’ Tom Habistrough offered an intriguing suggestion so far as potential punishments.
He talked about that the league might theoretically take away the decide swaps they’ve in 2026 and 2028 and outright strip them of their 2030, 2031, and 2032 firsts. Mix that with the picks they’re already out of, and the Clippers would not have a primary for the subsequent eight years.
The league might additionally void Leonard’s contract, although that is perhaps unlikely, and even droop Baller for a 12 months if the accusations are confirmed true.
The Clippers are already feeling the consequences of the Kawhi Leonard drama
That will not have an effect on them a lot on the court docket this season, at the least at first. Nevertheless, what they’ve achieved with Leonard has already backfired huge time. The Clippers signed Leonard with the situation of doing so being them buying and selling for Paul George.
That commerce set the desk for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder successful a championship final season and has nonetheless haunted the Clippers. Leonard and George solely made a Western Convention Finals in six seasons collectively.
L.A. allegedly paying Leonard as much as $50 million additional, past his contract, makes them look foolish. Leonard has develop into often called “avenue garments,” with him typically out of the lineup.
The Clippers are risking the wrath of the NBA to allegedly circumvent the wage cap. We must see what the last word consequence will likely be, however the potential consequence might be disastrous for L.A.
