The NBA has refuted allegations presented in a recent ESPN report regarding its inquiry into Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer. According to ESPN’s article released on Monday morning and citing three sources, the NBA’s investigation did not uncover any evidence supporting claims that Ballmer used team sponsors to compensate Kawhi Leonard secretly to evade salary cap regulations.
The report suggested that the NBA is examining whether the Clippers’ introduction of Leonard to team sponsors breaches league guidelines that prohibit circumventing salary cap rules. NBA spokesperson Mike Bass responded to the ESPN article on Monday afternoon, stating that it contains numerous inaccuracies. Bass mentioned that the findings of the NBA’s investigation will be disclosed upon its conclusion.
A trade deal between the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors involving Leonard has been postponed pending the league’s decision on potential sanctions.
