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With each passing day, the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for possible salary cap circumvention through a sponsorship deal for Leonard with the now-defunct Aspiration, a green banking company that has since gone bankrupt, grows more and more stressful for Los Angeles.
The investigation has been going on since before the start of last season and while the NBA continues to inquire about the extent of Leonard's sponsorship with Aspiration and if his deal did amount to salary cap circumvention, the Clippers' offseason has been effectively stalled considering they can't move forward with trading Leonard to the Toronto Raptors until the investigation is finished.
That makes the length of his process all the more frustrating for Los Angeles and according to a recent report from ESPN's Baxter Holmes, the investigation could cross over into 2027, something that amounts to the Clippers' worst fears.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
According to Holmes' report, the investigation could continue to drag on if the parties involved, which includes the Clippers and the NBPA, can't agree on on the findings of the investigation or a proposed punishment for Leonard or the Clippers if found guilty of any wrongdoing.
The NBPA's involvement in the investigation is an additional factor to complicate things, but they are a factor that's working more on the Clippers' and Leonard's behalf, though that involves hampering the length of the investigation overall.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) runs on the court during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome. William Liang-Imagn Images
Homes' report included quotes from NBPA executive director David Kelly, who informed reporters in Las Vegas that he hadn't seen anything from the findings of the law firm Wachtell Lipton, which is running the NBA's investigation, that indicated wrongdoing worthy of punishment by either the Clippers or Leonard.
Holmes also explained that should the parties involved in the investigation be unable to agree on a conclusion of the investigation, the matter could go to a neutral arbitrator jointly appointed by the NBA and NBPA and after a hearing, the arbitrator's ruling could then be subject to a three-person appeals process, those three people also being jointly appointed by the NBA and NBPA.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (left) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
In that event, the decision of the three-person appeals court would be final.
If found to have willfully circumvented the salary cap, the consequences for the Clippers would include fines of up to $7.5 million, direct forfeiture of draft picks, the voiding of player contracts as well as a suspension of up to one year for any team personnel found to be involved in any kind of violation.
These penalties would obviously be detrimental to the Clippers' ongoing rebuilding effort, but more than anything else, the time that the investigation has taken is undoubtedly taxing on the Clippers overall plans as a franchise.
Continue reading...
The investigation has been going on since before the start of last season and while the NBA continues to inquire about the extent of Leonard's sponsorship with Aspiration and if his deal did amount to salary cap circumvention, the Clippers' offseason has been effectively stalled considering they can't move forward with trading Leonard to the Toronto Raptors until the investigation is finished.
That makes the length of his process all the more frustrating for Los Angeles and according to a recent report from ESPN's Baxter Holmes, the investigation could cross over into 2027, something that amounts to the Clippers' worst fears.
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
What Happens If There's A Disagreement Between Parties?
According to Holmes' report, the investigation could continue to drag on if the parties involved, which includes the Clippers and the NBPA, can't agree on on the findings of the investigation or a proposed punishment for Leonard or the Clippers if found guilty of any wrongdoing.
The NBPA's involvement in the investigation is an additional factor to complicate things, but they are a factor that's working more on the Clippers' and Leonard's behalf, though that involves hampering the length of the investigation overall.
You must be registered for see images attach
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) runs on the court during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome. William Liang-Imagn Images
Homes' report included quotes from NBPA executive director David Kelly, who informed reporters in Las Vegas that he hadn't seen anything from the findings of the law firm Wachtell Lipton, which is running the NBA's investigation, that indicated wrongdoing worthy of punishment by either the Clippers or Leonard.
Holmes also explained that should the parties involved in the investigation be unable to agree on a conclusion of the investigation, the matter could go to a neutral arbitrator jointly appointed by the NBA and NBPA and after a hearing, the arbitrator's ruling could then be subject to a three-person appeals process, those three people also being jointly appointed by the NBA and NBPA.
You must be registered for see images attach
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (left) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Possible Consequences
In that event, the decision of the three-person appeals court would be final.
If found to have willfully circumvented the salary cap, the consequences for the Clippers would include fines of up to $7.5 million, direct forfeiture of draft picks, the voiding of player contracts as well as a suspension of up to one year for any team personnel found to be involved in any kind of violation.
These penalties would obviously be detrimental to the Clippers' ongoing rebuilding effort, but more than anything else, the time that the investigation has taken is undoubtedly taxing on the Clippers overall plans as a franchise.
Continue reading...
