The saga involving the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and a now-defunct company named Aspiration has taken another dramatic turn. New evidence unearthed by journalist Pablo Torre appears to connect the team directly to a controversial $28 million payment made to Leonard, casting serious doubt on owner Steve Ballmer’s claims that the organization was duped in the affair.
Clippers Reportedly Sent Money to Aspiration Before Kawhi Leonard Payments
In his latest report, Torre produced bank records that allegedly show the Clippers sent money to Aspiration just before Leonard received his questionable payments. Specifically, the documents suggest the franchise provided the company with a $21 million deal, signed by the team’s CFO, only two weeks before Leonard’s “no-show” pay was delivered.
EXCLUSIVE: Two weeks before Kawhi’s first “no-show” payday, the Clippers bailed out Aspiration with a $21M deal signed by the team CFO.
(Yes, @mcuban sent @PabloTorre down this rabbit hole: “He literally described exactly what they did,” a source says, “to circumvent the cap.”) pic.twitter.com/5lQNMLm8Or
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 18, 2025
This development builds on previous information Torre released regarding a $1.9 million investment in 2022. That report highlighted a $1.75 million payment from Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong to the two-time NBA champion, which occurred on the same day Aspiration conducted a mass employee layoff.
As this murky scandal unfolds, the NBA is adding these findings to its ongoing independent investigation. While the league’s conclusions will take time, the outlook for Ballmer appears increasingly dire based on Torre’s reporting.
What Penalties Could Steve Ballmer and the Clippers Face?
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the NBA could impose tough penalties on Ballmer if the Clippers are found guilty of circumventing the league’s salary cap. The potential consequences are severe and could include:
- Fining the Clippers up to $7.5 million.
- Forfeiting the Clippers’ draft picks.
- Suspending Ballmer or other team personnel for up to a year and fining them up to $1 million each.
While previous reports indicated that other NBA teams do not expect a hefty punishment for Los Angeles or its owner, the potential forfeiture of draft capital would have massive implications for their future roster construction. This situation adds another layer of complexity to Leonard’s tenure with the team.
Back in the 2019 free agency period, Leonard was one of the most sought-after stars available. The Clippers ultimately won the sweepstakes, beating out their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, to sign the marquee forward to a three-year deal. He has remained the face of the franchise ever since, even as team success has been limited.
In his six seasons with the team, the Clippers have been perennial playoff contenders but have never managed to capture the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy. It remains to be seen if the All-Star forward can finally lead them to the promised land this season.
