NBA investigation into Kawhi-Aspiration deal carries major stakes

The fallout from Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration continues to ripple across the league. And longtime NBA voices say commissioner Adam Silver cannot afford to brush this one aside.

“This situation is exactly what Adam needs to cut out of the league right now,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick told Sactown Sports 1140. “You cannot have a second-apron luxury tax system that is basically a hard cap meant to level the playing field… and then potentially allow deals like this that, if proven to be the case, are putting money in the pockets of star players on the side as a way to keep them in town.”

Amick noted that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, while enormously wealthy and well-regarded by fellow governors, has a history of “coloring outside the lines.” If investigators find proof of cap circumvention, punishments could be significant.

“The penalties: The player contract could be voided. Executives could be suspended for up to one year,” Amick said. “Any fine you give Steve Ballmer is irrelevant because he’s such a wealthy man.”

One league source even joked to Amick that voiding Leonard’s deal would ultimately benefit Ballmer.

“You’re going to void Kawhi’s contract, get all kinds of salary cap room. The guy has barely played the last couple of years,” Amick recounted.

So far, Ballmer has denied any involvement beyond introducing Leonard to Aspiration executives in 2021.

“These were guys who committed fraud. They conned me,” he told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

The NBA, meanwhile, has already begun its investigation. As ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, the league plans to interview Ballmer, Leonard and key executives tied to Aspiration while digging for a paper trail.

Amick praised the reporting that has pushed the story forward, crediting Pablo Torre’s deep dive into bankruptcy filings.

“That’s old-school sleuthing,” Amick said. “And we’ll see where it leads.”

For now, it leaves the Clippers and the league in wait-and-see mode. If the NBA finds nothing, Ballmer and Leonard move on. If it uncovers proof of an off-the-books deal, the fallout could be severe.