The NBA has refuted allegations presented in an ESPN report regarding the league’s inquiry into Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. According to ESPN’s publication on Monday, sourced from three individuals, the NBA did not discover any proof that Ballmer used team sponsors to compensate Kawhi Leonard covertly and surpass the salary cap regulations.
The report suggested that the NBA is looking into whether the Clippers’ interactions between Leonard and team sponsors breach the league’s regulations against evading the salary cap. NBA spokesperson Mike Bass criticized the accuracy of the ESPN article in a statement released on Monday afternoon, emphasizing that the investigation’s outcomes will be disclosed upon completion.
The potential trade between the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors involving Leonard has been halted pending the league’s decision on potential penalties.