NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver has said that the investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers would conclude this summer and a decision will be made.
What the probe is about
Kawhi Leonard and LA Clippers is currently being investigated by an Independent law firm; Watchell, Lipton, Rosen and & Katz for Salary Cap Circumvention
The probe centers on a $28million endorsement contract given to Leonard’s LLC by Aspiration, a green banking startup.
Now the league is analyzing a previously undisclosed endorsement contract and also whether the Clippers directly paid for Kawhi’s personal expenses without being legally reimbursed.
This investigation is the reason why the Kawhi trade to Toronto Raptors has been put on hold for now.
What Adam Silver said
According to ESPN, Silver said that “This investigation needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season. It’s going longer than I would have hoped, there’s no question about that”
Silver also mentioned that the league’s general counsel has been receiving weekly updates from the law firm but they’ve not gotten to any conclusion that he’s aware of.
Clippers owner, Steve Ballmer is also part of the investigation, he invested $60 million in Aspiration but has denied any knowledge of a backdeal with Kawhi
At the end of the investigation, if Kawhi is found guilty of breaking the league’s salary cap rules, the league could void his contract or a $350,000 fine might suffice
