Adam Silver reviews the timeline of the Kawhi Leonard investigation as the investigation reportedly grows in scope
One of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason — the Toronto Raptors reacquired Kawhi Leonard — there is always a break due to the NBA’s ongoing investigation into allegations the Los Angeles Clippers exceeded the salary cap through a sponsorship deal between Leonard and the carbon credits company Aspiration.
The investigation into Leonard and the Clippers began ten months ago and most expected a decision before this offseason. But the start of the new league year came and went without official updates on the investigation or possible punishment for either side. The Raptors and Clippers both released statements last week after the trade was suspended, as Toronto was notified by the NBA that it would take the risk of any punishment Leonard might receive.
On Tuesday, The Athletic reported that the Leonard investigation has been delayed and “expanded” to include other improper expenses the Clippers gave Leonard, as well as a second possible unreported endorsement deal with a different company:
While the LA Clippers, Leonard and now the Raptors are all waiting for a conclusion, the investigation has grown exponentially since it began, according to multiple sources who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity to speak freely. Not only did Wachtell Lipton, the league’s law firm hired to conduct this investigation, check whether the Clippers exceeded the NBA salary by making an agreement to sponsor Leonard with Aspiration, it also checked whether the Clippers improperly covered Leonard’s expenses but were not reimbursed, said the source. And the company checked that Leonard had a previously unreported endorsement deal with another company, those sources said.
That is a significant update and provides some context as to why the investigation has not yet reached its conclusion.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke Tuesday after the NBA Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas, and provided an updated timeline for when the investigation could be completed.
“I would say this can be wrapped up — and needs to be wrapped up — before next season,” Silver said.
As part of the Aspiration’s investigation, The Athletic obtained photos of Leonard’s defunct marketing campaign that featured him as a character similar to Marvel’s Groot, linking his interest in comics to the company’s promise to plant trees to offset its carbon footprint.
That nasty campaign never got off the ground, but it provides at least some evidence of an attempt to make Leonard’s relationship with Aspiration public. Why that didn’t materialize will be of interest to the league’s investigation, as a former employee told The Athletic they were told to “stop thinking about Kawhi, this feels like death.”
The Clippers say they are waiting [Leonard] the transaction will be finalized” once the investigation is complete. The team said it was “fully cooperating” by “participating in numerous discussions, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff.”
“Although this program is challenging, we remain committed to transparency,” said the team.
