Adam Silver hires law firm to probe Clippers, Kawhi Leonard

An investigation into the alleged salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers and its star Kawhi Leonard will be conducted by a law firm, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on Thursday.

The Clippers and Leonard are under fire after details emerged last week from journalist Pablo Torre that the star signed a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal with a financial firm turned tree-planting organization called Aspiration. 

The deal was allegedly made to circumvent the league’s salary cap restrictions, a serious offense that could cost the Clippers a lot if proven guilty. Torre’s investigation also revealed that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into the organization before the deal between the former Finals MVP and Aspiration was made.

More details came out that the Clippers and Aspiration completed a $330 million sponsorship deal alongside a $1 billion offer for the naming rights to the now-called Intuit Dome.

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BREAKING: Adam Silver speaks on the Clippers investigation

“The burden [of proof] is on the league if we’re going to discipline a team, owner or player … As a matter of fundamental fairness I would be reluctant to act if there was only an appearance of impropriety … The… pic.twitter.com/jBUYvAl7by

— APHoops (@APH00PS) September 10, 2025

While talking in front of media members, Silver said they needed concrete evidence before punishing Los Angeles for violating the league’s cap rules and admitted of not knowing the endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration.

“The burden is on the league if we are going to discipline a team, an owner, a player, or any constituent members of the league,” Silver said. “I think, as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges. I think as a matter of fundamental fairness, I would be reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety.”

“I’m reserving judgment because I don’t know the facts here. I don’t know what Kawhi was paid. I don’t know what he did or didn’t do. We’ll leave all that to the investigation,” added the Commissioner.

New York-based law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz will handle the investigation, but no timetable was set as Silver said he will let the investigation go for as long as needed.  

“I’ve been around the league long enough, in different permutations of allegations and accusations, that I’m a big believer in due process and fairness. We now need to let the investigation run its course,” he said.

Last week, the Clippers and Ballmer denied allegations of cap circumvention and said they would help the league in the upcoming investigation.

Time will tell if the investigation will result in punishments for the Clippers, who brought back veteran guard Chris Paul and signed Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez in the offseason.

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