NBA owners are pressing for clarity on Kawhi Leonard’s 2024 contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which came in below the maximum salary figure.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the issue is expected to be discussed at next week’s board of governors meeting in New York. Ownership sources told Mannix that questions have emerged over whether Leonard was compensated outside of his standard contract.
Leonard signed a full max deal in 2021, but in 2024 opted to take less. At the time, the move was framed as a team-friendly decision to help the Clippers’ flexibility. Owners now want to know if there was more to the decision.
The concern is amplified by the franchise’s status as a taxpayer team. Any additional compensation, if proven, would have significant financial implications across the league because tax penalties get redistributed to other organizations.
“Something I’ve heard owners asking is how much did this cost them?” Mannix said. “If he was getting compensated another way, that’s a different story.”
The questions come as the NBA investigates Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a bankrupt tree-planting company linked to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Journalist Pablo Torre uncovered bankruptcy documents connecting Leonard to the arrangement, leading the league to hire Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to oversee the probe.
This is the same law firm that handled investigations into Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver, highlighting the seriousness of the current inquiry.
Ballmer has denied any wrongdoing, telling ESPN that Leonard’s contract was completed months before any introduction to Aspiration. He described his personal investment in the company as under three percent and stressed that the Clippers have always abided by league rules.
“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 said.
If investigators uncover violations, the consequences could be severe. In 2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves lost five first-round picks, saw Joe Smith’s contract voided, and had Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale suspended for their illegal agreement.
While a “smoking gun” may be difficult to find, the stakes remain high for both Leonard and the Clippers. The league’s review could influence not only Los Angeles’ future but also how salary cap enforcement is handled across the NBA.
