Clippers: Owner Steve Ballmer 'duped' by fraudulent company Aspiration
Thu Sep 18 2:36pm ET
Field Level Media
The Los Angeles Clippers claim owner Steve Ballmer was "duped" into making investments with the now-bankrupt company at the center of an investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention.
The team released a statement Thursday about its dealings with Aspiration, a sustainability business that Ballmer and the Clippers reportedly invested $118 million in from 2021-23.
An investigation by ESPN contributor Pablo Torre claims Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard was to receive $28 million in cash from Aspiration in a "no-show" endorsement deal as a way of working around the NBA salary cap.
Ballmer has said he was defrauded by Aspiration and has denied allegations of circumventing the cap.
On Thursday's edition of the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast, Torre said the Clippers purchased $56 million in carbon credits from Aspiration in 2022 -- two years before the Intuit Dome opened -- on dates that aligned with Leonard signing his endorsement deal.
The Clippers responded with a lengthy statement about the team's dealings with Aspiration.
"Steve and his family are focused on sustainability, which is why Intuit Dome was designed to be a carbon neutral building from its inception and to achieve LEED Zero status over time.
"Our development agreements for the arena included mandates to buy carbon credits, but after studying the issue of neutrality, we went far beyond those requirements, exploring ways to address emissions from our fans and contracting with Aspiration to directly purchase carbon offsets, as well as broker the acquisition of additional offsets.
"Some of those commitments were built into the sponsorship deal with Aspiration -- totally separate of the investment in the company -- and we made payments to Aspiration until the company was unable to fulfill their responsibilities.
"The effort reflects Steve wanting to set a positive example and raise awareness of the growing and important role of voluntary carbon markets. Unfortunately he was duped on the investment and some parts of this agreement, as were many other investors and employees."
The league will ultimately have to determine if there was any wrongdoing by the Clippers.
The current CBA allows for a fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense of circumventing the salary cap, the forfeiture of one first-round draft pick, and/or the voiding of any contracts or transaction that violated league rules.
Leonard originally signed with the Clippers in 2019 before agreeing to a three-year contract extension worth around $150 million in early 2024.
The 34-year-old won the NBA Finals MVP award both times he earned NBA championship titles (2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, 2019 with the Toronto Raptors). He also has two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name.
He missed the 2021-22 campaign following knee surgery and has been limited in each of the past three seasons due to ongoing knee issues. He averaged 21.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in just 37 games last season.
In 13 seasons with the Spurs, Raptors and Clippers, the six-time All-Star has averaged 20.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 733 games.
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- Steve Ballmer denies allegations of Kawhi Leonard, Clippers circumventing salary cap
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- Clippers paid Kawhi Leonard $28M for no-show job at company
New York Knicks guards Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon joined the team on non-guaranteed deals last week before training camp. However, the team can only carry one of their veteran non-guaranteed salaries on their roster due to being hard-capped. Brogdon, Shamet, Garrison Mathews, Matt Ryan, and Alex Len are all playing for that spot, but The New York Post's Stefan Bondy reports that the Knicks want to keep both Shamet and Brogdon, which would mean a trade needs to be made. Both veterans passed on other opportunities, according to Bondy, indicating they don't expect to be cut. Bondy threw out a Miles McBride trade as a spicy possible solution, although trading Pacome Dadiet or Tyler Kolek would be more minor deals that could open the roster space as well. Both Shamet and Brogdon have to show that they are healthy, but if they are, it will be interesting to see how the Knicks' rotation looks this year under new head coach Mike Brown.
Dallas Mavericks center/forward Anthony Davis (eye) underwent offseason surgery to repair a detached retina, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Stein said that Davis is "not fully back on the court yet," and his availability for the start of practice and training camp is uncertain. While the team doesn't start the regular season until October 23, it is concerning that after Davis had so many injury issues last year, he could already start the year less than 100%. The potential of Davis' missing practice could make the start of the year even tougher as the team tries to prepare for the absence of Kyrie Irving (knee) as well. Irving is "ahead of schedule" according to general manager Nico Harrison, but he will still miss significant time to start the season after tearing his ACL last March.
Charlotte Hornets guard DaQuan Jeffries was released on Thursday after playing 47 games, including 20 starts for the team this past season. He averaged a career-high 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest and will now have a chance to find a new team before the season starts. In his previous seasons, he played with the Kings, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Knicks before landing with the Hornets last season. Where he ends up will go a long way to determining his fantasy value, if any, this season. The Hornets' backcourt will be well-stocked with a hopefully healthy LaMelo Ball, along with newcomers Collin Sexton, Kon Knueppel, and Liam McNeeley.
Shooting guard Trevelin Queen will move to China for the upcoming campaign, having agreed to a deal with the Guangdong Southern Tigers. The 28-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Orlando Magic, averaging 4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.2 minutes across 45 games. Queen has also suited up for the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers, making 62 total regular-season appearances in the NBA. While he has never fully established himself in the NBA, Queen has earned several accolades in the G League, including the MVP award in 2022.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) plans to take his time with rehab and aims to be in top shape when he returns. "I'm going to take my time to get all the way back, get it fully healed, get it strong, and feel confident on it," Lillard said on an episode of The Sideline with Andy Katz. "I want to get my body all the way back in shape so that when I return to the floor, I'm not coming back as a shell of myself. I plan to return and be myself." Lillard is expected to sit out the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles. He'll be 36 by the time the 2026-27 campaign comes around, but the veteran star seems confident about his ability to return in All-Star form.
The Brooklyn Nets have waived guard Keon Johnson. This move is quite unexpected since Johnson was one of the team's top contributors last season. Johnson started in 56 of his 79 appearances, averaging 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals. He was on a partially guaranteed $2.34 million salary for this season. According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Johnson is dealing with an injury, which influenced the team's decision to release him. Considering his performance last season, Johnson will likely attract interest from other NBA teams once he's healthy again.
Forward Tosan Evbuomwan has agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The 24-year-old showed some decent numbers with the Brooklyn Nets last season but was waived by the team in August. Across 28 outings, Evbuomwan averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 23.8 minutes. Evbuomwan has also seen action in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons, making 45 total appearances. In training camp, Evbuomwan will compete for one of New York's two-way spots on the roster.
Center Trey Jemison III has signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks. The 25-year-old big man made his NBA debut during the 2023-24 campaign but has already joined his fifth NBA organization. Last season, Jemison III played 38 contests with the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers, recording 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game. Overall, he has averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 boards across 63 career games. Jemison III will add depth to the Knicks' frontcourt, which includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Guerschon Yabusele.
Forward Matt Ryan has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks. The New York native will hope to start a second consecutive season with the Knicks. In 2024-25, Ryan made 19 appearances with the team before being waived in March. Over his four-year NBA career, Ryan has suited up for five teams. He's mostly been limited to a third-string role, posting 3.7 points in 9.4 minutes per game. Ryan is a good shooter, having knocked down 40.2 percent of his threes in the NBA, but this alone isn't enough to secure a regular role on a team.
The New York Knicks have brought in center Alex Len for training camp on an Exhibit 9 contract. Len has played nearly 700 NBA games and would add valuable experience and a physical presence to the Knicks if he makes the team. The Ukrainian big man split last season between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.3 minutes. He's been limited to fewer than 10 minutes per game for three consecutive campaigns and shouldn't be expected to be a fantasy factor.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker is set to play a significant offensive role on his new team. "The Hawks' coaching staff has worked closely with Alexander-Walker in Toronto ahead of taking on a more expanded offensive role than he held with the Minnesota Timberwolves," Grant Afseth of RG reports. Alexander-Walker has mostly been known for his defense so far during his career, averaging only 8.8 points and 2.3 assists in 20.8 minutes. However, it looks like he will have the ball more in his hands in Atlanta. Afseth mentions that Alexander-Walker will likely have "consistent ball-handling responsibilities" alongside another new member of the team, Luke Kennard. This could lead to a breakout campaign for Alexander-Walker from a fantasy perspective.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Thomas Sorber (knee) underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, Clemente Almanza of the OKC Thunder Wire reports. The young big man suffered the injury a few weeks ago during an offseason workout. Sorber was the 15th pick in this year's draft after a strong year at Georgetown. His 2024-25 season ended early due to foot surgery, so he's had some tough luck with injuries this calendar year. Tuesday's knee surgery means Sorber will miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. He is expected to be healthy and ready for the next season.
Forward/center Kai Jones will kick off the 2025-26 season in Europe, having agreed to a one-year deal with two-time EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes. Jones enjoyed a solid finish to last season, averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over a 12-game stretch with the Dallas Mavericks. He was linked with the Miami Heat during the offseason and even had a workout with the team. Jones' contract with Anadolu Efes reportedly includes an NBA out clause for January, so there's a chance we'll still see him in action in the Association this season.
Guard Bones Hyland has officially rejoined the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2024-25, he spent the last couple of months of the season with the Timberwolves on a two-way contract, and Hyland was expected to return to the team for the new campaign. He'll hope to see more action than last season, as Hyland only played four times for the Timberwolves, averaging 4.3 minutes on the floor. He started the year with the Los Angeles Clippers, posting 7.2 points per game in 11.1 minutes. Unless the backcourt gets hit by injuries, it's hard to see Hyland getting regular minutes in Minnesota.
Center Bismack Biyombo has returned to the San Antonio Spurs on a one-year contract, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The veteran big man ended last season in San Antonio, putting up 5.1 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds in 18.9 minutes. He was a starter in all but two of his 28 appearances, as injuries hit the Spurs' frontcourt. With Victor Wembanyama healthy again and Luke Kornet providing a solid backup at center for the upcoming season, Biyombo faces a tough challenge to earn playing time in 2025-26.
The Brooklyn Nets are acquiring guard Kobe Bufkin from the Atlanta Hawks for cash considerations, sources have told ESPN's Shams Charania. The Hawks selected Bufkin 15th in the 2023 draft, but injuries have severely limited his development. Last season, Bufkin's campaign ended in December due to shoulder surgery. He made 10 appearances, averaging 5.3 points and 1.7 assists in 12.4 minutes. Bufkin gets a fresh start in Brooklyn, although the Nets' backcourt currently appears very crowded, making it difficult to project what the rotation might look like.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to their first podium finish in EuroBasket since 2009. The two-time NBA MVP even said that this was his "greatest accomplishment." In the third-place game, Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor and 12-for-16 from the charity stripe. He also chipped in with 17 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, one steal, and seven turnovers. He was also named to the EuroBasket All-Star team after averaging 27.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 4.4 turnovers per game with shooting splits of .685/.250/.656.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun had quite the EuroBasket performance, finishing in the top seven for points and top four for both assists and rebounds per game. Ultimately, Sengun and Turkey fell just short of the gold medal by five points to Germany. In 30 minutes, Sengung posted 28 points, three rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and three turnovers while shooting 11-for-22 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. As the go-to guy for Turkey, Sengun really proved that he belongs in the upper echelon of big men right now. He registered 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game through nine games.
Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder turns into a superstar every time he puts on the German National Team's jersey. He did it yet again as he led the Germans to the gold in EuroBasket this year and was even named the MVP. In the 88-83 win over Turkey, the 32-year-old posted 16 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, and one steal while shooting 5-for-11 from the floor, 1-for-3 from deep, and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Throughout the tournament, he averaged 20.3 points, 7.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 turnovers, and 2.2 threes per game. He'll start the first year of a new contract with the Sacramento Kings this coming season.
Memphis Grizzlies center/forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (toe) underwent a procedure in July to address a turf toe injury, and it appears he's progressing well. The former Defensive Player of the Year said, "I'm feeling good. I'm progressing the right way. I'm doing what I need to do. Every day has been a building block." There isn't a firm timetable on his return, but the team originally said that they'd reevaluate his status around the start of training camp. Now that the Grizzlies dealt away Desmond Bane, they'll need all hands on deck this coming season if they want to return to the playoffs. Jackson had one of his healthiest seasons in 2024-25, but averaged just below 30 minutes per game. With that being said, he still registered 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per contest with shooting percentages of .488/.375/.781.
