Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton added humor to one of the NBA’s most serious investigations, making light of reports involving Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
Responding to talk of a potential “no-show job” connected to Leonard’s endorsement deal, Haliburton quipped, “Tell them to find me too!”
The remark came after questions were raised about Leonard’s $28 million arrangement with Aspiration, a bankrupt tree-planting company that once counted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer as a minority investor.
The NBA has retained law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to oversee the inquiry, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. The same firm previously managed league probes into former owners Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver.
The issue is whether Leonard’s off-court contract violated salary cap rules by serving as an additional incentive for him to sign with the Clippers in 2019.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed the review after journalist Pablo Torre uncovered Aspiration’s bankruptcy filings linking the All-Star forward to the deal. Leonard is expected to be interviewed as part of the process.
Ballmer has publicly denied any wrongdoing, stressing that Leonard’s contract was completed months before his introduction to Aspiration. He added that his investment in the company was less than three percent.
“We cannot pay a player anything beyond what’s in his standard player contract, and we cannot cause anybody else to pay the player what’s beyond their standard contract,” Ballmer told ESPN.
The Clippers have stated they are cooperating fully, saying they welcome the opportunity to clear the situation.
If investigators determine violations occurred, possible consequences include voiding Leonard’s contract, team fines, or executive suspensions. The last major cap circumvention case came in 2000 when the Minnesota Timberwolves were penalized for an illegal agreement with Joe Smith.
Amick told Sactown Sports 1140 that the results will be significant. “This situation is exactly what Adam [Silver] needs to cut out of the league right now,” he said.
