Kawhi Leonard Dismisses Reports of Clippers' Secret $50M Scheme
NBA star states he does not follow the journalist who reported on the salary cap circumvention scandal.
Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard has stated he does not follow the reporting of Pablo Torre, the journalist who broke the story detailing the Los Angeles Clippers' alleged scheme to pay Leonard $50 million through no-show endorsement deals.
The NBA determined these payments constituted a circumvention of the salary cap, leading to significant penalties for the Clippers.
Leonard, when asked about Torre's podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out," replied, "No, I don't follow it... I'm not entertained by it." He added that he does not know what Torre is talking about, making it difficult to engage with the reports.
The scandal emerged as Leonard's trade to the Raptors was being finalized. The NBA's investigation and subsequent sanctions against the Clippers, including a one-year suspension for owner Steve Ballmer and a $30 million fine, delayed the deal.
Ultimately, the NBA stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks and suspended several team executives. Leonard's uncle and representative, Dennis Robertson, was banned from NBA business dealings after receiving improper benefits. Leonard himself was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits received from the Clippers and other organizations, though his contracts were not voided.
In a statement issued amid the investigation, Leonard said, "Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am." He accepted responsibility for lapses in judgment by individuals in his inner circle and regretted the distraction the situation caused. Leonard maintained that he entered into agreements in good faith and had no knowledge of any intent to circumvent the salary cap.
The trade to Toronto marked an emotional return for Leonard, who led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in the 2018-19 season, earning Finals MVP honors. He then departed for the Clippers in free agency.
The NBA's investigation cited a "pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules."