NBA investigates Clippers over alleged secret pay deal for Kawhi Leonard

The NBA has launched an probe into the Los Angeles Clippers aft newsman Pablo Torre published a study claiming the squad orchestrated a fake sponsorship woody to bring successful prima Kawhi Leonard. 

Allegedly, the regularisation connected the regulation of wages, known arsenic the wage cap, was bypassed, writes CNN.

Torre said connected his podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out" that helium obtained much than 3,000 pages of interior documents and spoke to respective anonymous sources. According to him, the grounds shows a strategy from 2022 nether which Leonard was to person $28 cardinal implicit 4 years, which is simply a nonstop usurpation of the league's wage rules.

Mike Bass confirmed

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass confirmed to CNN that the league is alert of the case: 

"We are alert of this morning's media study astir the LA Clippers and are opening an investigation," Bass said.

One anonymous source, a erstwhile worker of the now-defunct Aspiration Partners, Inc., said the wealth was allegedly precocious to Leonard without the league's knowledge. "I didn't disclose arsenic overmuch arsenic I was told," the root said, adding, 

"Oh, by the way, we besides person a selling woody with Kawhi Leonard, for $28 million, an integrated selling sponsorship woody with Kawhi." The root explained that helium was told Leonard didn't person to bash thing peculiar and not to inquire questions.

The Clippers and proprietor Steve Ballmer person denied each allegations. In a connection to The Athletic, they said neither Ballmer nor the Clippers violated the wage headdress oregon engaged successful misconduct. "Any allegation to the contrary is demonstrably false," the connection said.

Aspiration filed for bankruptcy successful March, and the company's co-founder pleaded blameworthy to defrauding investors, resulting successful losses of much than $248 million. If the Clippers are recovered to person circumvented the wage cap, the squad could look a good of up to $7.5 million, a voided declaration and the forfeiture of aboriginal draught picks.

Kawhi Leonard is an NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors, helium was the MVP of the finals successful some title seasons, and helium has been playing successful the league since 2011 with an mean of 20.1 points per game.