The NBA officially launched an investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers after podcaster and journalist Pablo Torre released material accusing the team of organizing a secret sponsorship deal with Kawhi Leonard to circumvent the league’s salary cap.
In the episode “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” which aired on Wednesday, Torre claims that he obtained access to over 3,000 pages of internal documents and spoke to several unnamed sources. According to him, the documents allegedly describe a 2022 scheme under which Leonard was to receive $28 million over four years to avoid league restrictions.
“We are aware of a media report this morning regarding the Los Angeles Clippers, and we are launching an investigation.”
– Mike Bass, NBA spokesperson
In the episode, there were also audio recordings allegedly originating from a former employee of Aspiration Partners, Inc., the company that provided funds to Leonard without the league’s knowledge.
“By the way, we also have a marketing agreement with Kawhi Leonard for $28 million, an organic marketing sponsorship deal with Kawhi.”
– Unknown source, described as a former employee of Aspiration
“(I was told) If I had any questions about this, basically not to ask them, because it was done to circumvent the salary cap. LOL”
– Unknown source
Torre also stated that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in 2021, though a direct link between Ballmer and the potential deal with Leonard has not been confirmed. CNN reached out to Ballmer, Leonard, and the Clippers for comment.
Timeline of Events and Potential Consequences
The team released an official response to The Athletic: “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any wrongdoing related to Aspiration. Any contrary claim is knowingly false: the team ended its relationship with Aspiration as early as the 2022–23 season when Aspiration failed to fulfill its obligations.”
Aspiration, described as a fintech and sustainability company, filed for bankruptcy in March. Torre presented a document in which KL2 Aspire LLC – reportedly connected to Leonard – is mentioned as a creditor for about $7 million. In turn, Aspiration Partners, Inc.’s co-founder previously acknowledged mistakes to investors and creditors that led to losses of more than $248 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019. Later he signed with the team a four-year extension worth about $176 million in 2021, as well as a new contract in 2024. According to the NBA’s 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team found to have circumvented the salary cap may face fines of up to $7.5 million, contract cancellations, and forfeiture of future draft picks.
However, the investigation is ongoing, and official comments from the NBA or Clippers at the time of publication remain limited. Meanwhile, this case has become a focal point of public scrutiny over the transparency of club financing and their partnerships with external financial entities.
Given the timing of the proceedings and the developments, the industry expects further official statements and potential legal steps if it turns out that salary cap rules or other regulatory provisions were violated. At the same time, the very fact of the investigation underscores the sensitivity of athlete financing and the impact of financial schemes on the image of clubs and leagues.