NBA: Playoffs-Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) leaves the court after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard are facing more public scrutiny after another allegedly improper sponsorship has been revealed.
Sports journalist Pablo Torre continues to unearth more details regarding the Leonard trade that sent the NBA star to the Clippers back in 2019. However, the latest sponsorship scandal may derail Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors.
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The reunion between the NBA veteran and Toronto is on hold as the league investigates the matter. Meanwhile, the newest “Pablo Torre Finds Out” reveals another potential issue for both the Clippers and Leonard.
Torre’s latest findings unveil a hidden, multimillion-dollar sponsorship allegedly paid to Leonard through the Clippers’ scoreboard manufacturer. The company, Daktronics, supposedly hired the NBA superstar to “a bogus contract.”
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Alleged scandals start piling up
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Indiana Pacers
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the first half against the Indiana Pacers. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Torre’s new episode also details how the Clippers allegedly used this sponsorship as a way to “circumvent the salary cap.”
“It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap,” an insider alleges to Torre.
This situation simply piles on to the Aspiration allegations originally made against Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Torre previously dove deep into Los Angeles’ 2019 trade with the Raptors, which brought Leonard to California.
BREAKING: Kawhi Leonard had a hidden, multimillion-dollar "sponsorship" with Clippers' scoreboard-maker, sources tell @PabloTorre.
"It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap," insider says.
In our investigation, Daktronics' Ballmer-linked crisis firm raises NBA probe ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LU1AeBAF44
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) August 7, 2026
The defunct company allegedly paid Leonard over $28 million by making quarterly payments. However, that money supposedly came in addition to the three-year, $103 million contract he signed as a free agent.
It’s unclear at this point whether Leonard’s deal with Toronto will go through. Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver could have a lot to do when it comes to levying penalties to the Clippers, if they are found guilty of the allegations.