NBA insider casts doubt on authenticity of documentary evidence put forth by Steve Ballmer's Clippers in Kawhi Leonard's Aspiration deal

Over the past few weeks, the LA Clippers have become the biggest talking point in the NBA. Insider Pablo Torre reported that Kawhi Leonard had signed a big-money endorsement deal with a tree-planting company funded by owner Steve Ballmer. Torre cited an ex-employee, who claimed the dealings were a way to circumvent the NBA's salary cap.

Pablo Torre Finds Out

@pablofindsout

Exclusive: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a "no-show job" with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to documents obtained by @PabloTorre. "It was to circumvent the salary cap," an inside source says.

The league decided to launch an investigation into the situation, with the Clippers reportedly willing to fully cooperate and provide all the original emails between Leonard and Aspiration. According to Jake Fischer, the Clippers aim to demonstrate that Aspiration sought to introduce itself to Leonard's camp rather than vice versa.

However, NBA insider Kevin O'Connor doesn't believe that these actions prove the team is innocent.

"The fact that Aspiration emailed the Clippers first about Kawhi Leonard proves nothing. It could just as easily be a manufactured paper trail," O'Connor wrote on X.

Kevin O'Connor

@KevinOConnor

The fact that Aspiration emailed the Clippers first about Kawhi Leonard proves nothing. It could just as easily be a manufactured paper trail.

The possible punishments for circumventing the cap include fines, forfeiture of draft capital and the voiding of contracts.

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Pablo Torre releases fresh report about Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers

Since his first report, Pablo Torre claims to have uncovered more details about Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration.

During Thursday's episode of his podcast, Torre discussed alleged financial details between Aspiration and Leonard. He said the company owed Leonard roughly $1.7 million, but took months to pay up. He also claimed that roughly a week and a half before paying Leonard, Aspiration received an investment of $2 million from the Clippers' co-owner Dennis J. Wong.

Pablo Torre Finds Out

@pablofindsout

EXCLUSIVE: Kawhi Leonard's $1.75M "no-show" payday was running late. Then, per new documents obtained by @PabloTorre, the Clippers' co-owner invested $1.99M in the team's broke sponsor. Nine days later, Kawhi got paid. "It is beyond shocking," an Aspiration executive says.

Over the summer, LA has made numerous upgrades via trades and free agency. Led by Leonard and James Harden, they are poised to make a run at a championship. However, this situation is slowly forming a massive cloud over the team just weeks before training camp begins.