Kawhi Leonard deal leads to NBA investigation of possible salary cap violations
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard fights for a rebound during a NBA preseason meeting against the Denver Nuggets on Oct at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles File photo by Brian Rothmuller Icon Sportswire A million endorsement contract between NBA star Kawhi Leonard a San Diego State alum and a California-based sustainability services company is at the center of a league salary cap dispute Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer announced in an interview with ESPN that he welcomes the NBA s analysis into an alleged circumvention of salary cap rules denying any involvement in the contract Ballmer stated he d want the NBA to probe another club if it were accused of the same violation Salary cap circumvention rules are essential to the league and I d want the league to investigate Ballmer narrated ESPN The former Microsoft CEO also disclosed in the interview that he introduced the six-time All-Star Leonard to the now-bankrupt green banking business Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC Ballmer once invested million in the venture Ballmer reported he s been reviewing his interaction with Aspiration as part of his and the Clippers cooperation with a U S Department of Justice examination into the company Co-founder Joseph Sanberg agreed to plead guilty last month after facing federal charges of wire fraud Prosecutors revealed he defrauded investors and lenders out of more than million The Clippers strongly denied any rules were broken in a message issued on Wednesday after the NBA stated its inspection following a account by journalist Pablo Torre that alleged the violation The Clippers communicated a million partnership with Aspiration in about a month after Leonard signed a four-year million extension The unit ended that relationship after two years because the contract was in default The league which previously looked into asserts that Leonard s representatives sought for perks that would be considered cap circumventions when he was a free agent can issue stiff penalties if cap rules are detected to have been broken by a unit That could include a fine of up to million the voiding of contracts and the forfeiture of future draft picks Leonard whose number was retired by San Diego State five years ago played basketball for the Aztecs from - and led them to the Sweet at the NCAA Tournament
