An upcoming season full of excitement for the Los Angeles Clippers may be plagued by drama, as star player Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers face allegations of circumventing the salary cap.
Leonard was given a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a company focused on environmental sustainability that Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer invested in. Allegations suggest that Leonard cut a side deal to receive an additional $20 million in company stock, rounding out Aspiration’s total compensation to $48 million.
The abnormal amount of money for an endorsement deal in addition to the fact that Leonard never publicly endorsed Aspiration has spurred concerns. Critics are calling it a “no-show job” by Leonard and a tactic used by the Clippers to give Leonard extra money while bypassing the salary cap.
A statement from the Clippers to “Pablo Torres Finds Out” states, “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false.”
The NBA league office has already begun an investigation into the matter, and if wrongdoing is found, the Clippers could face dire consequences.
Potential penalties proposed for Leonard include voiding his contract and prohibiting him from re-signing with the Clippers, requiring Leonard to return the money to Aspiration and facing fines from the league. As for the Clippers organization, if foul-play is found, they risk being fined a large sum of money, the forfeiture of draft picks as well as the suspension and fining of personnel who are involved.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were involved in a similar situation after the 1999-2000 season when it was found they tried to circumvent the salary cap with Joe Smith. As punishment, Minnesota lost several first round draft picks and over $3 million. Several suspensions within the organization were made as well.
While the NBA is still early into its investigation, this situation is not a good look for the Clippers. The repercussions would be costly for a team that made a bevy of offseason moves and is chasing its coveted first title.
It may not be time to push the panic button yet, but the Clippers definitely should feel discomfort. A lot is in jeopardy for the organization with this investigation. With all the effort put towards putting together a talented team, the possibility of losing draft picks, fines and suspensions is a concern for the future of the Clippers.
To add insult to injury, if the allegations are proven to be true, the Clippers haven’t even won anything with Leonard. The Clippers haven’t even reached a championship since the beginning of his stint, and Leonard has consistently struggled to stay healthy.
It may be a while before the NBA wraps up its investigation and any possible consequences are handed out. But one thing is clear — Inglewood’s new team may be in hot water.