The Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is having a career year. In his 14th NBA season, Leonard is posting a career-best 28.0 points per game. However, the Aspiration scandal continues to loom over the 34-year-old veteran. Leonard and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s names surfaced in the scandal when reports emerged in 2025 alleging they used Aspiration, a now-defunct fintech company, to circumvent salary cap restrictions.
The allegations prompted the NBA to launch a full-scale investigation. If the charges are proven true, Leonard could face severe penalties, including the voiding of his current three-year, $149.5 million contract.
Teams That Could Sign Kawhi Leonard if the NBA Voids the Clippers Star’s Contract
The noise surrounding the Aspiration situation largely subsided as the focus shifted to Leonard’s elite on-court performance. After a prolonged period, the seven-time NBA All-Star appeared to be back in his element.
With one clutch performance after another, he lifted the Clippers from their struggles at the start of the 2025-26 season to a respectable 10th-place standing, raising hopes of at least a play-in berth.
Nevertheless, the former NBA champion remains under investigation, and discussions resurfaced recently when Tom Haberstroh examined the potential outcome of the Leonard-Aspiration case. He emphasized that Leonard would likely face the brunt of the punishment. The league could void his contract, which would make him a free agent.
Haberstroh also noted that such a move would spark a frenzy, with top NBA teams prepared to pursue the former two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He identified three teams — the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks — as potential suitors if Leonard becomes available.
“So maybe it’s a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment, whether it’s forcing Kawhi Leonard’s contract to be invalidated, … but the interesting thing about that is it creates a conundrum where, if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re going to see a frenzy for his services with the likes of the Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks,” Haberstroh said.
“They would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That, I think, would create more hysteria and chaos around the league than actually forcing the Clippers’ hands.”
“I would be very surprised if [the NBA] forced the sale of [the Clippers].”@tomhaberstroh joins Yahoo Sports Daily to talk punishments for Steve Ballmer and the Clippers amid the Kawhi Leonard situation. pic.twitter.com/IjV4C9FVaM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 23, 2026
For now, Leonard is playing at a level reminiscent of his two NBA championship runs. Along with elite scoring, Leonard is averaging 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 49.4% from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range.
As Haberstroh pointed out, Leonard could be the first domino to fall when the league announces its findings and proceeds with penalties for those involved.
