The NBA world has been spinning non-stop lately, and nowhere is the tension more visible than in Los Angeles. On one side, you’ve got the Clippers wrapped up in a storm around Steve Ballmer and the league’s ongoing investigation into possible salary cap circumvention. On the other, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of their own massive shift, with the Buss family striking a deal to sell majority ownership to billionaire Mark Walter. It’s a wild mix of timing and circumstances, and owners across the league are watching closely.

Commissioner Adam Silver has already made it clear that he won’t act on the Clippers’ case without hard proof. “The burden is on the league if we are going to discipline a team, an owner, a player or any constituent members of the league,” he told reporters. Still, that hasn’t stopped speculation or concern from creeping into conversations among NBA governors. The Ballmer investigation is drawing out, and insiders believe it could set off ripple effects far beyond the Clippers themselves.

That’s where the Lakers’ situation comes into play. The Buss family’s decision to sell their controlling stake in the team to Walter for a record-shattering $10 billion valuation has shifted the focus back to ownership dynamics in the league. Jeanie Buss will remain as governor for the foreseeable future, but Walter is now the man with the keys. His business portfolio is wide-ranging, with successful investments across baseball, soccer, and even Formula 1. On paper, it looks like a steady hand taking over one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.

But privately, some owners aren’t exactly at ease. On the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, the concern was spelled out clearly: “So I think it feels like it’s going to be a long investigation, probably not digging up enough to meet the burden of proof that Adam Silver just presented. And you’re going to see some team’s owners being very upset about it and saying, oh my god, now we’re going to see Mark Walter”. The fear isn’t just about the Clippers’ fate. It’s about what could follow if new power players decide to test the edges of the league’s rules.

Walter’s track record with the Dodgers suggests he’s no stranger to spending big and building contenders. Magic Johnson even praised the move publicly, saying “Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand”. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed those feelings, calling it an exciting moment for Los Angeles Lakers as a whole. Still, endorsements from familiar faces don’t erase the unease from the wider ownership circle. Timing matters, and this transition is happening while the league is knee-deep in controversy over one of its most prominent governors.

That’s why Silver’s handling of the Ballmer situation could set the tone for how the league treats ownership issues going forward. If the Clippers’ case ends with little more than raised eyebrows, other governors may feel emboldened to push boundaries. And with Walter stepping into a position of immense power at the Los Angeles Lakers, that possibility is what has some owners quietly bracing themselves.

In other words, this isn’t just about the Clippers or the Los Angeles Lakers on their own. It’s about the shifting balance of influence in the NBA, and whether the league is equipped to keep its biggest names in check.

The Wong Investment Complicates Clippers Case

The Clippers investigation took a significant turn when journalist Pablo Torre’s reporting revealed additional connections between team ownership and the troubled Aspiration company. According to Torre’s findings, Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong- Ballmer’s former college roommate- invested $1.99 million in Aspiration through a company called DEA 88 Investments in December 2022. This transaction occurred just nine days before Kawhi Leonard’s company received a $1.75 million payment from Aspiration.

The $1.99M infusion was just enough to unlock Leonard’s payment amid a broader “huge freeze” on outflows. Former employees told Torre it “really looks like the Clippers, through Dennis Wong, put in $2 million in order for Aspiration to be able to make the $1.75 million payment to Kawhi.” One source explicitly tied it to ensuring Leonard got paid, given the company’s insolvency.

The connection deepened with the revelation that Wong’s daughter worked at Aspiration as a project manager, potentially giving the Clippers co-owner insider knowledge about the company’s financial troubles.

This network of relationships- Ballmer’s investment, Wong’s timely injection of funds, and the family connection- creates a pattern that investigators will examine closely to determine if these were coincidental business decisions or part of an orchestrated effort to compensate Leonard outside the salary cap system.