LOS ANGELES — There is something called the fine print in which the average reader seems to skim over, and that is what is already developing around LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard. 

Over the past three weeks, the Clippers have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The biggest news in the NBA circulates around the Clippers of being accused to being tied in with a business called Aspiration back in 2022. Someone who has not related to the story may take it as not a big deal, however when you talk about the details of the company, you will find it to be a company has been deemed as bankrupt and fraudulent. 

The NBA has taken these accusations against the Clippers extremely serious and have organized an investigation. On Sept 4th, Steve Ballmer had a sit-down interview with ESPN NBA insider Ramona Shelburne. The billion-dollar man who is known for his contagious energy and fun spirit was anything, but that in his interview with Shelburne. 

        

To simply describe Ballmer in this interview is uncomfortable. That is exactly what this case is an uncomfortable situation, where now it has caused a federal investigation which Ballmer and the Clippers have said they are willing to fully cooperate. 

In saying all of that, the most recent report was from ESPN’s NBA senior writer Baxter Holmes who wrote an article that has insinuated that the Clippers are “done” building around Leonard. 

NEW: The Clippers tried to keep Kawhi Leonard happy & healthy. What followed was fear, secrecy, lawsuits, fines & investigations — now leading to owner Steve Ballmer. “At some point,” an ex-staffer says, “Steve has got to get out of the Kawhi business.” https://t.co/Dx4UMBoVsE

— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) September 17, 2025

Out of all the reports, surrounding this situation and Leonard this is for sure one of the most eye glaring. This is though where the fine print comes in that the average reader tends to skim over. Focusing on the shiny headline, and not the minute details. In doing that, there is not anything in Holmes story saying the Clippers are done building around Leonard. In fact, it is the opposite. 

Leonard’s 2024-25 season 

The Clippers finished last season as the fifth seed in large part of Leonard playing 37 of 82 games. It is safe to say the Clippers have gone to the tale of precaution and watching over Leonard’s health. In the last 21 games, is the stretch to look at as the Clippers went 17-4 and it came off the back of primarily Leonard’s play. Leonard averaged 25.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 3.4 apg with shooting splits of 52/43/80. Without this stretch, the Clippers would have been in the play in. Leonard was a top five players going into the postseason and was getting a lot of praise amongst the masses. 

For a player, that is deemed as “always hurt” the numbers he is still able to put up mixed in with how his peers feel about him seems to speak other wise. As well as he just completed an entire season for the first time since 2021 which was the only variable pertaining to Leonard. Why would the Clippers stop building around him now?

🇺🇸 Kawhi Leonard today highlights vs. Warriors:

🏀 33 POINTS
🏀 7 ASSISTS
🏀 6 REBOUNDS

Clippers won against Warriors 124-119 ✅ pic.twitter.com/EXUG7J8B5x

— DV highlights (@DVhighlights) April 13, 2025

Roster construction

The Clippers had a disappointing loss to end their season versus the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. With that disappointing loss, the Clippers seemed to have made quite a few of acquisitions of Bradley Beal, John Collins, Brook Lopez, and Chris Paul. The playoffs against the Nuggets there were still glaring holes in the roster that showed. 

After losing All-Star Paul George, the Clippers were missing that vital second scoring option and while Beal is not the overall player George is he can still score when given the role to score at even a higher ceiling than former Clippers guard Norman Powell. Beal is a former 30+ ppg scorer in the league whose role was demoted when he arrived at the Phoenix Suns next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Leonard needs a reliable second option to play alongside him in not just the regular season, but the playoffs and Beal brings that. 

Collins gives the Clippers the power forward they have desperately needed since losing Marcus Morris and Robert Covington in 2024. In this NBA, a lot of teams are coming out with bigger front courts and lesser small Ball lineups. To bring in another athletic player like Collins, allows Leonard to go back down to his natural position at small forward. 

Finally, Paul, arguably the greatest player in Clippers history has returned to his old stomping grounds for another season. While his age may be 40 with that comes wisdom. Last season with the Spurs he completed 82 games averaging 8.8 ppg with assist-turnover ratio of 7.4:1.6. That means for every seven assists Paul makes comes with only one turnover. That is considered elite. 

In watching Paul throughout his career, he is a master at making his teammates better while also valuing the basketball and not turning it over. This is something the Clippers need on the court. When it comes to being a potent point guard making sure everyone is in their spots and the offense is ran correctly. There are not too many better than Paul. His play making skills mixed in with his high IQ is going to be great for Leonard’s playing style. 

All of these players the front office have gone out to get this off-season seems to be trying to complement Leonard not push him out.

Final thoughts of accusations

This is for sure a serious situation for the Clippers facing penalties such as fines, suspensions, loss of draft picks, and even a voided contract for Leonard depending on if the allegations are true. That would be the only way the article from Holmes would hold any real weight. However, there is no evidence that the Clippers have even entertained the idea of moving away from Leonard.