The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers, and team owner Steve Ballmer has remained one of the league’s biggest unresolved storylines. Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the probe could be completed soon, but the league has yet to announce any findings.
That silence has become even more intriguing due to Leonard’s alleged multimillion-dollar endorsement involving another company connected to the Clippers.
The latest development prompted ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith to weigh in Friday.
Kawhi Leonard Faces NBA Punishment – Stephen A. Smith Anticipates Adam Silver May Go Easy
Journalist Pablo Torre first alleged last year that the Clippers circumvented the NBA’s salary cap for Leonard by investing in Aspiration, a now-defunct company. Ballmer welcomed the league’s investigation, calling it a necessary step.
The probe, conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, is still unresolved. Meanwhile, Torre added another layer to the controversy Thursday on his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast.
Torre reported that Leonard had another endorsement agreement with Daktronics, a company that manufactured video boards for several NBA teams, including the Clippers.
Smith, who welcomed Torre onto “The Stephen A. Smith Show” this week, reacted to both the ongoing investigation and the latest allegation from his guest.
“If you’re the NBA, you vaporize the contract of Kawhi Leonard, and in the same breath, not only do you do that, but you suspend him, and you don’t allow him to play for the next year,” Smith said.
“You confiscate the draft picks from the Clippers, but you also suspend Steve Ballmer from appearing in games. I can’t imagine Adam Silver going that far, but this may call for that because you know what everybody’s gonna think.”
The potential fallout is already affecting Leonard’s future beyond the investigation itself. The Toronto Raptors, whom Leonard led to the 2019 NBA championship, and the Clippers reportedly put talks involving the seven-time All-Star on hold.
According to Silver, both teams understood the risks and agreed to table those discussions until the NBA completes its investigation.
If the league determines that the Clippers violated its rules, the organization could face significant penalties, including the loss of future draft picks. Leonard’s contract could also be voided depending on the findings.
Smith went even further, arguing that both Leonard and Ballmer should face suspensions if the allegations are proven. Even so, the ESPN host acknowledged that such punishment would represent an extraordinary step for the NBA.
That is where the uncertainty surrounding Silver becomes crucial.
The commissioner has repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting the league’s competitive integrity, but imposing the kind of penalties Smith outlined would send a message far beyond Los Angeles.
If the investigation ultimately confirms that the Clippers deliberately circumvented the rules, Silver will have to decide whether protecting the NBA’s credibility requires a punishment severe enough to reshape the franchise, or whether the league stops short of the sweeping penalties Smith believes the situation warrants.
