Following the conclusion of the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers-Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention case, investigative journalist Pablo Torre offered more insight into Leonard's involvement.
Despite Leonard stating that he was unaware of any attempt to circumvent the salary cap, Torre argued that there is no way the Clippers star did not know what was happening.
"I'm a big fan of treating adults like adults. Kawhi Leonard is 35 years old and we have documents, Aspiration contract, in fact, $28 million contract in which his signature is on it," Torre said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.
"We have the money flows. We have him actually in the NBA report, by the way, specifically. This is not Dennis Robertson. This is Mr. Leonard in the report requesting that Aspiration flip how they were going to pay him," he stated.
"They initially were like, 'We're going to give you the seven a year in stock and the four and the five a year in salary.'"
Kawhi Leonard's statement after the NBA investigation
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard
As the NBA announced, Leonard was issued a $700,000 fine for violating the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.
Following the announcement, Leonard released a statement maintaining that he had no knowledge of cap circumvention and accepting responsibility for the situation.
"Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.
"I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap.
"For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate," Leonard said in his statement.
NBA issues a hefty fine to the Clippers for salary cap circumvention
Steve Ballmer
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Based on this misconduct, the NBA has imposed the following penalties on the LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and other key figures involved:
The Clippers shall forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts.
The Clippers are fined $30 million.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA's circumvention rules.
Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year for being primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for providing false and misleading statements to investigators.
Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Mr. Leonard and his family.
The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years.
In connection with his violations, Mr. Leonard is required to pay the league $700,000.
Mr. Robertson is banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of five years.