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Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer are accused of giving the all-star tip Kawhi Leonard $ 28 million for a “no-show job” to bypass the league’s salary ceiling.
Sports reporter Pablo Torre detailed his accusations of the latest edition of “Pablo Torre finds out,” which had direct legal document quotes everywhere. Torre says Leonard was paid $ 28 million through apse, a tree planting service that is now bankrupt.
Aspiration signed a 28 million dollars legal agreement with Leonards KL2 Aspire, LLC. Torre accuses Ballmer of having paid Leonard more than his current contract that would go against NBA rules.
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The Los Angeles Clippers tip Kawhi Leonard looks at during the second half of a NBA basketball match against Atlanta Hawks, Saturday 4 January 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Concea)
A clause within the legal agreement between the two companies said that Leonard had the ability to “refuse to continue with any action the company wanted,” which would basically get him paid without having to do anything.
Torre never found evidence that Leonard marketed or approved the company.
Even more narrative was Torre to find a clause that said Leonard would only be paid $ 28 million if he remained a member of Clippers.
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Torre said he was talking to former employees about the contract, and one of them agreed to be interviewed with a voting modifier. The employee claimed that the agreement between aspiration and Leonard was carried out to “bypass the payroll.”
Kawhi Leonard #2 by La Clippers shoots a free throw during the game during the Round One game one of 2023 NBA playing games on April 16, 2023 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor Clippers surrounded the salary tackle or exercised any wrongdoing in the case of aspiration. Any opposite claim is proven false,” Clippers said in a statement to Torre.
Contact from aspiration to KL APPIRE LLC was also performed through Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s advisor, who has a history of NBA studies. Robertson was investigated in 2019 for asking for unacceptable benefits, although the league did not find “Uncle Dennis” guilty of the rocks who gave illegal benefits to his client while pursuing him in free agency.
“We are aware of the morning media report on La Clippers and begin an investigation,” NBA speaker Mike Bass told ESPN.
Pakinomist Digital reached a Leonard Rep for comment.
Leonard was a highly sought-after free agent that year, and there were some surprised that he chose Clippers on a three-year-old, $ 104 million.
Clippers would extend Leonard in 2021 with a four -year agreement of $ 176 million, and they continued to keep him in place in 2024 and issued a three -year extension of $ 149 million.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is accused of trying to bypass NBA’s salary ceiling with a $ 28 million payment to Kawhi Leonard. (IMagn)
The 33-year-old two-time NBA champion played only 37 games last season for Los Angeles as he dealt with the right knee armor that flared up while attending the US landscape camp before the Paris Olympics in 2024.
