I don't know who had Kawhi Leonard being named in a massive scandal to circumvent the CBA via a tree-planting company named Aspiration on their Bingo card, but if you did, step to the front and claim your reward (a pat on the back). I'm sure, then you also knew that Uncle Dennis would be named in the nonsense stemming from it.
"Kawhi's uncle, Dennis, was calling to demand payment. It was priority one. It was crucial to our relationship with Ballmer and the Clippers."
Torre's source says Aspiration, of which Leonard had signed an endorsement deal, was flailing at the time.https://t.co/ltAANquSvQ https://t.co/wcQTzhxJvx pic.twitter.com/ekkMlmw3nN
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 3, 2025
Uncle Dennis and Kawhi Leonard stepped in it this time
If you know sports reporter Pablo Torre, formerly of ESPN, you know that he's a strong investigative journalist, and if he's on your trail, you may already be smoked. The longtime media magician's podcast show is called "Pablo Torre Finds Out." Safe to say that you don't want your company as a subject on a program with that kind of name, but here we are.
This morning, Torre released information he says was confirmed through multiple sources that Aspiration was paying Leonard $28 million to do absolutely nothing in an endorsement deal crafted by the Clippers to pay their franchise star additional money away from the watchful eye of the NBA. This, of course, is against CBA rules, so this spells big trouble for the West Coast organization if true.
The last time an organization was caught circumventing the CBA was in the early 2000s. David Stern caught wind that the Minnesota Timberwolves had agreed to pay Joe Smith below market value for three seasons on one-year deals so they could gain his Bird Rights before signing him to a very lucrative three-year deal.
The punishment would be severe. They fined Minny $3.5 million, suspended the owner Glen Taylor and the General Manager Kevin McHale, voided the one-year deals the two parties had agreed to, and forced the Timberwolves to give up five draft picks.
Things are different now, though. Actual rules have been established in the bylaws, so the commissioner can't just do whatever he wants anymore. The penalty for this offense isn't that harsh on a team's draft picks.
NBA penalties for cap circumvention:
- Fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
- Fine of up to $5.5 million for a second offense.
- Loss of one first-round pick.
- The possibility of voiding contracts that involved circumvention. pic.twitter.com/O6NO9bMWVv
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) September 3, 2025
According to the rules posted by CBS Sports reporter Sam Quinn, the Clippers are only subject to losing one first-round pick, but they don't have any in the upcoming seasons anyway. The find has been raised to $4.5 million, but that's not much of an increase considering the last time it happened was over 20 years ago, and every franchise's valuation has skyrocketed.
Not to mention the team is owned by the eighth-richest man in the world, Steve Ballmer. The man's net worth is estimated at $153.1 billion, according to Forbes. $4.5 million is probably the price of his dry cleaning.
Most Spurs fans won't be shocked to hear that Leonard is at the center of more organizational drama in another city. They'll be even less shocked to hear that Uncle Dennis is involved once again. Now that this news is out, the NBA will likely conduct an investigation, and if the Clippers are found guilty, they'll be punished, but unless they void Kawhi's contract, I'm not sure the penalties will matter.