Los Angeles Clippers Allegedly Finishing Roster Construction with Kawhi Leonard as Centerpiece
In the world of basketball, the Los Angeles Clippers and their star player, Kawhi Leonard, have been making headlines for more than just their on-court performances. The NBA is currently investigating a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration, a former team sponsor that filed for bankruptcy.
Leonard, a six-time All-NBA member and the Finals MVP for the second time in his career (2018-19), joined the Clippers in 2019, signing a three-year, $103.14 million deal. He later extended his stay with the team in 2024, committing to a three-year, $149.51 million extension that will keep him with the Clippers until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Despite these significant investments, the Clippers have yet to taste the sweet victory of an NBA championship. They have made the playoffs five times in Leonard's six years with the team, but have endured three straight first-round losses. Some change might be needed to achieve the ultimate goal for the Clippers - winning a title.
The allegation is that Leonard didn't do any work for Aspiration, leading to speculation that the endorsement deal was a means to earn additional money beyond his NBA salary. This could potentially have helped the Clippers to bypass the salary cap, a concern that has sparked the ongoing investigation.
However, it's worth noting that there is no information about any legal actions taken or penalties imposed in relation to this investigation. Leonard, who led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship in the 2018-19 season, has been a key player for the Clippers since joining the team.
Leonard's injury history is a concern for the Clippers. Since the 2017-18 season, he has appeared in at least 60 games only twice in the past seven campaigns. This inconsistency could be a factor in the team's inability to advance further in the playoffs.
The Clippers' draft picks are also a point of interest. They do not control their first-round pick in the next four years. Their unprotected first-round pick in 2026 will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the right to swap first-round picks with the Clippers in 2027. If the option to exchange the unprotected first-round pick of the Clippers in the 2027 NBA Draft with the Oklahoma City Thunder is not used, the Los Angeles Clippers will retain the rights to that pick.
A rival general manager described the deal to bring Leonard to the Clippers as a "f-king disaster." Despite this harsh criticism, the Clippers and their fans remain hopeful that Leonard will lead the team to the championship they so desperately seek.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how this situation will affect Leonard's future with the Clippers and the team's chances of clinching the NBA title.
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