The NBA has publicly disputed an ESPN report concerning the league’s investigation into potential salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers. On Monday, ESPN claimed that after an 11-month investigation, the NBA found no evidence that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money to Kawhi Leonard through team sponsorships to evade the salary cap.

Mike Bass, a spokesperson for the NBA, stated, “ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation – for which the NBA declined to cooperate – contains numerous and significant inaccuracies.” He emphasized that the results of the investigation would be revealed once it concludes.

The NBA did not specify which parts of the ESPN report they contested. According to ESPN, the investigation revolves around whether introducing Leonard to team sponsors violates league rules against salary cap circumvention and if the Clippers failed to supervise their employees adequately. The nature of any potential violations or punishments remains unclear.

The allegations first emerged in September 2022, when journalist Pablo Torre reported that the Clippers allegedly funneled $28 million to Leonard through a “no-show” endorsement deal with Aspiration, a green-banking firm partly funded by Ballmer that went bankrupt last year. Other companies involved in the investigation include Aspiration, whose co-founder was imprisoned for fraud.

The Clippers responded to ESPN, stating, “Making introductions between players and team partners is both an ordinary practice by NBA teams and a common request of players and representatives.” They denied negotiating or dictating the terms of Leonard’s endorsement deals, asserting that such relationships do not indicate salary cap circumvention.

The Toronto Raptors, having lost Leonard in free agency after winning the 2019 NBA championship, agreed in principle to bring him back at the end of June. However, they acknowledged that they would wait for the investigation's conclusion before finalizing the deal.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed hope that the investigation would conclude by the end of summer, just ahead of training camps opening on 29 September. Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and seven-time All-Star, averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 65 games for the Clippers last season.