The NBA has reportedly found no evidence that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard and circumvent the league’s salary cap.
According to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne, the NBA’s investigation found no evidence that Ballmer used Clippers sponsors as a way to provide Leonard with additional compensation outside of his NBA contract.
The investigation stemmed in part from Leonard’s business relationship with Aspiration, a now-defunct sustainable financial services company that previously partnered with the Clippers.
The NBA launched an extensive investigation into the Clippers’ dealings with Aspiration and whether the organization or Ballmer had violated league rules regarding salary-cap circumvention.
While the league reportedly found no evidence that Ballmer funneled money to Leonard, the investigation has examined whether the Clippers properly handled Leonard’s introduction to team sponsors and whether any league rules were violated in the process.
The probe has reportedly lasted approximately 11 months and expanded beyond the Clippers’ relationship with Aspiration to include other team sponsors.
The findings come after questions surrounding Leonard’s compensation and his connection to Aspiration generated significant scrutiny around the Clippers and Ballmer.
For now, the NBA has not found evidence supporting the claim that Ballmer secretly used sponsors to supplement Leonard’s salary and circumvent the league’s salary cap.
The Clippers and Ballmer, however, remain under scrutiny as the NBA reviews other aspects of the organization’s conduct.
