Clippers Start Season Amid Cap Probe, Rely on Veteran Core

The Los Angeles Clippers begin the 2025-26 season under the twin pressures of an offcourt investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and a roster that is the oldest in the league, leaving the team dependent on veteran availability and health. The NBA is investigating claims that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer used a company called Aspiration to pay Leonard roughly 28 million above the salary cap for a no-show job, a report alleged in the offseason. The probe is ongoing and could produce penalties for the franchise and the player.

On the court, the Clippers have leaned into experience. Their roster, which averages about 33.2 years old, was reshaped over the summer with additions including Bradley Beal, Chris Paul and Brook Lopez as the club attempts to build on a 50-win 2024-25 season. Kawhi Leonard, set to enter his 14th NBA season, has been prominent in preseason play and comment. After scoring 18 points and adding two assists in 18 minutes in a preseason blowout of the Guangzhou LoongLions, Leonard played 22 minutes and scored 22 points in a 120-101 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets. He told reporters that he has long been comfortable...