There’s no end to the recent discoveries, as Pablo Torre signaled he isn’t backing down from the Kawhi Leonard-LA Clippers investigation. The renowned journalist has already caused massive tremors within the basketball world through his initial report on the scandal that accuses the former NBA champion and Clippers’ owner, Steve Ballmer, of making an under-the-table deal involving millions. However, recently Torre revealed that this was just a glimpse into what seems to be an even bigger matter.
Recently, while speaking on the issue, Torre revealed some interesting information: “It took seven months to report, and we continue to report it. So, for me, the question of like, where did this come from? This seems like it’s out of nowhere for everybody else; that may be the case. “For us, we’ve been swimming in it. And I just simply want to impress upon people. I have not even seen the bottom of the rabbit hole.”
The New York native previously revealed that Steve Ballmer and his team funneled $118 million into the now-bankrupt firm Aspiration between 2021 and 2023. That period also saw a $28 million “no-show job” tied to Kawhi Leonard, plus another $20 million in a stock deal now deemed worthless. In total, reporting suggests the Clippers sought to funnel roughly $48 million outside the NBA’s salary cap to keep their superstar forward. But it doesn’t end with a few names.
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“When I say that this story has a lot going on, we’re talking about truly a company valued at $2.3 billion, once upon a time, due for a snack, due to go public via spAC. We’re talking about criminal charges, guilty pleas to wire fraud. We’re talking about all these A-lists, like Bill Clinton is in this story. Drake is in this story. I mean, it’s just, it goes to so many places. And the gift and the curse is that I think I’m going to eventually see the bottom of this,” he added while speaking with Front Office Sports Today.
The 39-year-old has dropped another bombshell through this new information, as he suggests that there are several other big names attached to this alleged scandal.
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No matter how much Ballmer and Co. try to deny, in the coming days or weeks, there might be more coming on the Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers’ deal with Aspiration. Already, many reports from the summer of 2019 have resurfaced that accuse the Klaw and his famed uncle, Dennis Robertson, of making illegal demands to several franchises.
This includes Leonard’s camp reportedly asking former LA Lakers boss Jeanie Buss for a slice in the team’s ownership to asking Raptors owners to bring them “no-show” endorsement deals. Now, if Torre further reveals anything new, it’s safe to say that its consequences will have a major impact on not just the superstar forward or the franchise, but it might even force the league to become even more strict with its salary cap rules and regulations. In the meantime, the pressure continues to mount on Adam Silver and the NBA.
The NBA continues to investigate the Kawhi Leonard scandal, as pressure mounts on Adam Silver & Co.
The stakes have never been higher than this for the league’s commissioner, Adam Silver. While the NBA executive has dealt with his fair share of issues in and around the league, this salary cap circumvention matter involving Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers is arguably his biggest test. That’s why Silver wasted no time in hiring New York-based law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Although there’s yet to be an update on how much information the firm has gathered so far, it’s safe to say that with the entire basketball world’s eyes on the NBA, they’ll have to find a resolution to this in almost no time. Despite pressure, Silver has stated that he won’t be rushing to any conclusions; instead, the investigation will be done wisely. If Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are found guilty, everyone, including the other teams, would want them to pay significantly.
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