For those within the NBA who believe the Los Angeles Clippers should be punished for an alleged salary cap circumvention with Kawhi Leonard, they are citing that there is enough circumstantial evidence already established to do so, reports Jake Fischer.
On Page 341 of the league’s newest Collective Bargaining Agreement under Article XIII titled “Circumvention,” punishment can be issued against a team or player if a violation of unauthorized agreements can “be proven by direct OR circumstantial evidence.”
The NBA has opened an investigation into the Clippers and while Pablo Torre’s reporting has yet to find a directive from anyone associated with the team to pay Leonard via Aspiration, there is ample circumstantial evidence in the eyes of rival team executives.
Further adding to the circumstantial evidence argument is Leonard had a “no-show” endorsement contract and numerous sources tell Fischer that the $7 million annual salary is well above “fair market value.” According to Torre, the endorsement deal was above what he made in his shoe deal with New Balance.
One agent Fischer spoke to, however, suggested that Aspiration’s combination of being an illegitimate business not familiar with the sports industry, could have plausibly led them to make a bad deal directly with Leonard’s camp. For example, Aspiration offered the Clippers a $300 million jersey sponsorship deal over 23 years, which was a far longer structure than any other team.
The Clippers maintain that Dennis Robertson was the one who sought and negotiated the deal with Aspiration.
During Adam Silver’s press conference on Wednesday, he suggested that the “burden” of proof is on the NBA’s investigation to prove the Clippers were directly involved in order for a punishment to be given to the franchise rather than strictly circumstantial evidence.