Kawhi Leonard Denies Clippers‑Aspiration Salary‑Cap Scheme

Kawhi Leonard spoke publicly for the first time about allegations that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer used a no-show endorsement with bankrupt firm Aspiration to skirt the NBA salary cap. Leonard said, "I don't deal with conspiracies," denied not doing work and added he "was never paid the full amount," while Pablo Torre's reporting cited a four-year, $28M deal and a separate $20M equity guarantee. The Clippers and NBA have opened investigations; Ballmer and the team deny wrongdoing. Merlin sees why this matters: it’s not just about one signature or check — it tests how the league polices creative money moves and could ripple through roster construction for years. With Aspiration’s collapse and questions about donations and equity, the truth may be slow, but consequential.