There is nothing more intriguing for the NBA world to know what’s next for Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers. The truth of the matter remains unforgotten and fresh. Leonard’s $28 million no-show contract and $20 million in stock with Aspiration have taken over the basketball world. So much so that the league Commissioner, Adam Silver, intervened with a legal move.

Meanwhile, the NBA will carefully investigate whether Leonard’s business ties were legitimate. The league will also examine if the Clippers used them to bypass the salary cap, Commissioner Silver confirmed Wednesday. Speaking after a board of governors meeting in New York attended by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, Silver emphasized the league will await the findings of an independent firm before deciding on any action.

Now, investigative journalist Pablo Torre, who first unveiled the big news, shared another piece of information on his podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out.

“We did not cause the board of governors to assemble this week,” Torre confirmed. However, Multiple sources said that coverage of Pablo Torre created an underlying tension in the room. This tension centered on a highly noticeable decision made by Commissioner Silver. “He chose not to discuss the investigation into Steve Ballmer out loud in front of the room of owners at any point.” Ironically, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, an NBA audit committee member, faces a situation raising financial questions.

However, “The silence in that big room pushed multiple irritated owners, I am told, into a series of private side chats over drinks, between sessions, at the luncheon, and at the St. Regis afterward. They discussed Kawhi’s $28 million no-show contract and his $20 million in stocks, all adding up to $48 million in total value. They also discussed the $50 million that Steve Ballmer had personally invested in Aspiration, a company that Adam Silver said he had never heard of before. This set the stage for the commissioner’s public press conference on Wednesday afternoon.”

During the press conference, Silver emphasized caution. He said he is reserving judgment because he lacks the facts. The Commissioner further admitted he cannot confirm Kawhi’s pay or his actions. And all answers will come from the ongoing investigation.

“I think as a matter of fundamental fairness, I would be reluctant to act if there was a mere appearance of impropriety,” Silver told the media. He added, “I think the goal of a full investigation is to find if there really was impropriety. … I would want anybody else in the situation that Mr. Ballmer is in now, or Kawhi Leonard, for that matter, to be treated the same way. I would want to be treated the same way if people were making allegations against me.”

Meanwhile, Adam Silver has brought in a legal team to uncover the full truth behind the controversy. The move signals the league’s seriousness and sets the stage for accountability. If the investigation finds wrongdoing, both Kawhi Leonard and Clippers ownership will face significant consequences.

Adam Silver launches legal action to investigate Pablo Torre’s claims

In September 2021, the LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into Aspiration, shortly before Kawhi Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the team. The same month, the Clippers and Aspiration announced a $300 million partnership. The timing of these massive deals after Leonard’s contract raised questions about possible salary cap links.

The partnership ended after two years, with the team declaring the contract in default. Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty last month to federal wire fraud charges. Prosecutors said he defrauded investors and lenders of $248 million. Aspiration’s financial statements overstated its revenue. The revelations cast a shadow over the Clippers’ dealings.

The NBA has a clear path for action. The NBA can fine teams up to $7.5 million, void contracts, and strip draft picks for breaking cap rules. Last week, Sam Amick reported the NBA hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rose, and Katz to investigate the Clippers-Kawhi Leonard case. The firm previously handled the investigations into Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver.

The NBA world holds its breath as the drama around Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers deepens. Tensions, secrets, and unanswered questions swirl behind closed doors while the league carefully plots its next move. With an elite legal team on the case and every angle under scrutiny, the outcome could redefine accountability in the sport. Every eye is watching. Every decision counts.