BONUS: NBA 'Lacks Proof' That Clippers Circumvented the Cap in Kawhi Leonard Dealings

August 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The NBA has found no evidence that the LA Clippers funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap, according to a report from ESPN. The league’s investigation, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, appears to be winding down toward a relatively minor resolution—a far cry from the "death penalty" scenarios that had been speculated. The Clippers and the league are currently negotiating a settlement, with the NBA focused on whether the team failed to properly supervise employees who introduced Leonard to sponsors, rather than on any direct cap circumvention.

What the Investigation Actually Found

The ESPN report, headlined by Shams Charania but reported by Ramona Shelburne and Dave McMenamin, states that the NBA presented its initial findings to the Clippers in late July. According to three sources with knowledge of the discussions, the league has "found no evidence showing that LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap." Instead, the investigation has shifted to whether the team's introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention. Two sources said the league is examining whether the Clippers are guilty of "failure to supervise employees," though it's unclear what specific rule wa

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What you'll learn

1 (01:05) **Breaking News: NBA Finds Little Proof of Clippers Cap Circumvention** - ESPN reports the league has not found evidence that Steve Ballmer funneled money through sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard, shifting focus to a lesser "failure to supervise" violation.
2 (03:09) **Why the Investigation Collapsed: Legal Threats and No Smoking Gun** - Matt Moore breaks down why the NBA's case weakened, citing the threat of arbitration and discovery.
3 (06:39) **The "Trial Balloon" and the Clippers' PR Strategy** - The hosts identify the ESPN report as a Clippers leak to shape public perception before the league announces a minor punishment.
4 (10:09) **NBA Fires Back: "Numerous and Significant Inaccuracies"** - NBA spokesman Mike Bass releases a rare public statement disputing the ESPN report, creating a direct conflict between the league and the Clippers.
5 (14:30) **Clippers Release Official Statement: "We Did Not Funnel Money"** - The Clippers issue a detailed denial, arguing that introducing players to sponsors is standard practice and that they did not negotiate Kawhi's deals.
6 (16:42) **What This Means for Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors Trade** - The hosts conclude Kawhi will face no punishment and the trade to Toronto will be finalized, making the Raptors a contender.
7 (18:49) **Final Analysis: "Doesn't This Happen All the Time?"** - The hosts debate the broader implications, arguing that 90% of this behavior is common practice across the league.

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Guests on this episode

Matt Moore

Show Notes

Breaking news on the NBA’s Kawhi Leonard investigation: The league reportedly found no evidence Steve Ballmer funneled money to Leonard and is now negotiating a resolution with the Clippers. What does that mean for LA, Kawhi and potential penalties?

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