The Los Angeles Clippers have landed in the spotlight as team owner Steve Ballmer faces an NBA investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention. At the center of the probe is a reported “no-show” endorsement deal for star forward Kawhi Leonard with the now-bankrupt financial company Aspiration.
As the NBA investigation continues, new details have come to light, raising further questions about the Clippers’ front office. Sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre broke the story, providing deeper insight into the allegations surrounding team owner Steve Ballmer and the questionable deal tied to Kawhi Leonard.
Pablo Torre reveals new details in NBA investigation of Steve Ballmer and Clippers
In the latest episode of his podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” journalist Pablo Torre continued his deep dive into the Clippers scandal. The episode marked the fourth installment dedicated to the case, where Torre examined how Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers allegedly funneled money into Aspiration even as the company was already faltering.
At the center of the controversy are three prepaid carbon credit purchases made by the Clippers in 2022, totaling $56 million, two years before the Intuit Dome even opened. Notably, a $32 million payment was made on April 4, the same day Kawhi Leonard signed his undisclosed endorsement deal with Aspiration, for which he never performed any duties.
The timing has drawn sharp scrutiny, particularly after NBA owner Mark Cuban remarked on social media that purchasing carbon credits would have been the “easier and safer” method of skirting CBA rules.
Pablo Torre also uncovered a $10 million investment Ballmer’s LLC made in March 2023. While Ballmer has argued he was defrauded by Aspiration, the timing undermines that defense, the money came after the company’s financial issues were public and disclosed in contracts.
Torre also reported that Aspiration founder Joe Sanberg turned down 19 investment offers in a “vigorous” attempt, according to Torre, to raise funds in late 2022 and early 2023. These decisions came amid the company’s mounting financial troubles and scrutiny over its dealings with the Clippers.
Clippers defend $56 million carbon credit buy as exceeding dome requirements
The Clippers acknowledged they are under intense scrutiny amid the scandal and explained the rationale behind their financial transactions.
Steve Ballmer and the Clippers highlighted their focus on sustainability, saying the Intuit Dome was designed to be carbon neutral from the start. “We went far beyond those requirements, exploring ways to address emissions from our fans and contracting with Aspiration to directly purchase carbon offsets,” the team stated.
Some commitments were tied to the Aspiration sponsorship, separate from the investment in the company. “The effort reflects Steve wanting to set a positive example. Unfortunately, he was duped on the investment and some parts of this agreement, as were many other investors and employees,” the statement read.
Read the full article here
