The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks are viewed as the teams most likely to aggressively pursue Kawhi Leonard if he becomes a free agent following potential punishment related to the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal.
With the Los Angeles Clippers' Aspiration scandal resurfacing after the All-Star break, speculation about the potential consequences for the franchise has intensified within NBA circles.
NBA insider Tom Haberstroh, in a report for Yahoo Sports, revealed that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will not be forced to sell the team. However, the situation could potentially lead to the departure of the franchise's superstar, Kawhi Leonard, who has been linked to the Aspiration controversy.
"Maybe it's a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment. Whether it's forcing Kawhi Leonard's contract to be invalidated, and I think that would be one of the things that is on the table," Haberstroh stated.
Haberstroh believes such an outcome could dramatically reshape the upcoming offseason, already linking Leonard to three potential suitors.
"I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you're going to see a frenzy for his services with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks," he reported. "They would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That would actually create more chaos."
Credit AP - Scanpix
Leonard registered his limited liability company in November 2021, and his $28 million contract with Aspiration took effect in April 2022. By December 2022, Aspiration was reportedly running low on funds.
Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong invested $2 million into the company, which allowed it to pay Leonard $1.75 million, covering his quarterly payments under the contract.
Ballmer later contributed another $10 million during a fundraising round, in which Wong was the only new investor.
The NBA's investigation, led by law firm Wachtell, is examining whether the deal could have skirted league salary cap rules.
Investigative reporter Pablo Torre has described Leonard's endorsement agreement with Aspiration as a "no-show" deal. Documents obtained by Torre suggest the arrangement may have allowed Leonard to receive tens of millions outside of standard NBA salary structures.
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