NBA probes Clippers over Aspiration deal amid salary-cap concerns

The NBA has opened a formal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and star forward Kawhi Leonard after reporting that Leonard received a roughly 28 million endorsement agreement with a now‑bankrupt company that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had invested in. The allegations surfaced in early September and center on a reported marketing contract between Leonard and the San Francisco firm Aspiration that league officials are scrutinizing for possible salary cap circumvention.

Podcast host Pablo Torre, who first disclosed documents and interviews tied to the deal, said the agreement routed payments to an entity connected to Leonard and required little or no promotional activity. Follow‑up reporting has alleged an additional roughly 20 million in stock compensation. Aspiration filed for bankruptcy this year and its cofounder has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, developments that have heightened scrutiny of the company’s contracts and finances.

Ballmer and the Clippers have denied wrongdoing. In an interview with ESPN, Ballmer said he invested 50 million in Aspiration but held less than a three percent stake, had no board seat and exercised no control over the company’s operations....