NBA to Investigate Los Angeles Clippers for Possible Salary Cap Circumvention
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that the league will take responsibility for demonstrating any irregularities in the investigation into a possible circumvention of the salary cap by the LA Clippers, their owner Steve Ballmer, and star Kawhi Leonard.Silver emphasized the need to analyze “the totality of the evidence” rather than relying on mere appearances. He indicated that the league will seek to determine if there was actually any infraction, recognizing that the public sometimes reaches erroneous conclusions. The NBA’s investigation focuses on whether Ballmer and the Clippers violated league rules, because Leonard received a $28 million sponsorship from Aspiration, a banking company in which Ballmer had invested. The accusations arose last week when a former Aspiration employee, according to reports, revealed that the payment to Leonard “aimed to circumvent the salary cap”. Sources indicated that the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, based in New York, will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, although a deadline for its conclusion has not been established. Silver, who reiterated that he possesses “broad powers in these situations,” made it clear that the NBA will assume the burden of proof, assuring that the league will take the time necessary to thoroughly investigate the matter. Silver added that the other NBA team owners share this opinion. Furthermore, Silver addressed other relevant topics for the league:All-Star Game Format: The new All-Star Game format is expected to be implemented at the start of the regular season. It was confirmed that it will change to a three-team format with 16 American players and eight international players in the February All-Star Game in Los Angeles.European League: Discussions about the creation of an NBA-led league in Europe continue. Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum met with different stakeholders in Europe this summer. Conversations with the EuroLeague, the most important league in Europe, are ongoing.Investigation into Malik Beasley: Silver declined to comment on potential limitations to Malik Beasley’s availability while the NBA investigates the gambling allegations against the player. The federal investigation into Beasley is still ongoing and the NBA will take action based on the results.“The burden falls on the league if we are going to sanction a team, an owner, a player, or any member of the league,” Silver stated during his annual press conference at the conclusion of the league’s Board of Governors meetings in midtown Manhattan.
Adam Silver
