Tim Hardaway weighed in on the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers salary-cap investigation in an interview with Action Network, saying, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
The former NBA guard added that while he is not certain about the details, rumors surrounding the league and salary cap circumventions have circulated for decades. “A lot of that has been going on. Under the salary cap, you can’t pay ’em this, you can’t pay ’em that. Just don’t get caught!” Hardaway said.
The NBA probe focuses on allegations linked to Leonard’s endorsement contract with Aspiration. Financial records reportedly show DEA88 Investments wired nearly $2 million to Aspiration just days before Leonard’s company, KL2 Aspire LLC, received a $1.75 million payment.
Aspiration was reportedly collapsing financially at the time and laying off employees. Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong, a longtime business partner of Steve Ballmer, was identified as the source of the investment, while his daughter worked as a project manager at Aspiration.
The Clippers stated that the details are under NBA investigation and described Aspiration as “a house of cards that defrauded Steve and many others.” The franchise also promised to provide the league with all necessary information.
Insiders noted the timing and amount of Wong’s investment as unusual given Aspiration’s financial struggles and prior fundraising totaling roughly $300 million. The payment to Leonard came on the same day layoffs occurred.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized due process during a preseason Board of Governors meeting in New York. The league’s legal team is evaluating whether the Clippers violated salary cap rules by indirectly funding Leonard’s endorsement deal.
Current speculation suggests that without clear evidence tying the payments to team negotiations, potential penalties could include fines or a second-round draft pick loss rather than major sanctions.
Hardaway’s comments highlight the enduring scrutiny NBA teams face regarding salary-cap management. “If the NBA thinks that you are wrong about doing stuff like that, they’re gonna get you,” he said.
The situation remains under review as the league works to determine whether any violations occurred, while Leonard and the Clippers await the investigation’s findings.
