Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been accused of circumventing the NBA salary cap with non-organizational payments to team superstar Kawhi Leonard. The story comes from sports journalist Pablo Torres, revealed via his videocast posted on X today. Torres claimed, and revealed, documentation of $28 million in what he termed “no-show” endorsement payments to Leonard from a “fraudulent” tree-planting company funded by Ballmer.

If these allegations are substantiated, the Clippers could face serious consequences. Larry Coon’s SalaryCapFAQ highlights relevant sections of the league’s salary policy and potential penalties.

As any league executive will tell you, the CBA isn’t a list of the things teams can’t do; it’s a list of the things teams can do. The league operates in a “disallo

See Full Page