Clippers Face NBA Investigation Over Kawhi Leonard Salary Cap Circumvention

The Los Angeles Clippers are under intense scrutiny due to allegations that they circumvented the NBA salary cap by paying Kawhi Leonard $48 million through a no-show job at Aspiration, a company linked to owner Steve Ballmer. This has prompted an NBA investigation and added pressure on the team to move on from Leonard, whose tenure has been marred by injuries, limited availability, and internal tensions, including disputes over the handling of his medical information. Since joining the Clippers in 2019 after leading the Toronto Raptors to a championship, Leonard has played in only 58% of games, with the team winning just three playoff series and never advancing beyond the Western Conference Finals. The franchise made significant moves to accommodate Leonard, including trading key assets for Paul George and allowing Leonard to live in San Diego under strict secrecy regarding his health. Former staffers and insiders describe the situation as a "nightmare," and some within the organization reportedly welcome Leonard’s departure. Sports commentator Bill Simmons has criticized the Clippers' engagement with Leonard and the related scandal as possibly the most damaging transaction in NBA history, overshadowing even high-profile trades like Luka Doncic's departure from the Dallas Mavericks.