The NBA is disputing claims made in an ESPN article about the league\u2019s investigation of Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.<\/p>\n
ESPN published a story Monday morning citing three sources that said the NBA found no evidence showing that Ballmer funnelled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap.<\/p>\n
The article alleged that the NBA is instead focused on if the team\u2019s introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of the league\u2019s rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention.<\/p>\n
NBA spokesman Mike Bass issued a statement Monday afternoon that send the ESPN article \u201ccontains numerous and significant inaccuracies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bass\u2019s statement said that the results of the NBA\u2019s investigation will be made clear once it\u2019s completed.<\/p>\n
A trade between L.A. and the Toronto Raptors involving Leonard has been put on hold based on what punishments, if any, the league doles out.<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n