The Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration saga has grown into one of the most puzzling stories of the NBA offseason. Reports around the controversial $28M no-show deal have sparked league-wide curiosity, leaving many to wonder how deep the controversy runs and what the consequences could be. Leonard’s arrival in Los Angeles in 2019 was tied to one of the boldest moves in recent NBA history.

The Clippers sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a staggering five first-round picks, plus two future pick swaps, to Oklahoma City to secure his partnership with Paul George. It was the kind of all-in gamble that left the Clippers with no safety net, one designed to maximize a short championship window around Leonard. Any punishment tied to him as a part of the controversy inevitably casts a long shadow back to that trade. At the time of that blockbuster, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was seen as a promising rookie, averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 assists. Fast forward to today, and he has become an MVP, Finals MVP, and the leader of a Thunder team that claimed the 2025 title.

With the ongoing Aspiration controversy, one of the potential punishments floated for the Clippers is a potential reversal of the trade. But, as analyst Keith Smith explained, “People have asked, we get asked this on our show … ‘Hey, could [the NBA] unwind trades?’ … and the NBA is not going to go back multiple years and then all of a sudden, you know, if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s back on the Clippers and they get draft picks back.” He added, “How would that be a punishment? They’d be like, ‘Thanks, you helped us out. This is awesome.’ So none of that’s going to happen.”

It makes sense, more so because Aspiration’s payments also came in years after Leonard had already joined the Clippers. Further, the payments in question had nothing to do with the Paul George trade, and the accusation is separate, that the organization circumvented salary cap rules to ensure Leonard was paid $28 million for a no-show job.

Smith was clear that the league’s real focus is on Leonard’s potential violations, not reshaping the landscape of the NBA. Even if the Clippers’ current situation makes the idea appealing, punishment cannot double as a reward. “This is going to be a fight whenever we get to that point,” Smith cautioned, “but this is not going to be quick. It’s going to take a little while.”

The controversy stems from Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal with Aspiration, a sustainability company backed by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Signed through Leonard’s LLC, KL2 Aspire, the contract allegedly required no promotional work, with payments tied to him remaining with the Clippers. Bankruptcy filings show Aspiration still owes Leonard around $7 million. The NBA prohibits side deals that act as disguised compensation, making the arrangement a clear red flag.

The league has launched a formal investigation, and Adam Silver has stressed his “very broad powers” to levy penalties. Consequences could range from fines and draft-pick losses to suspensions or contract voiding. The Clippers and Leonard deny wrongdoing, but a former Aspiration employee has suggested the deal was designed to skirt the cap. For Los Angeles, the case risks reputation and assets; for Leonard, it could redefine how the NBA polices team-sponsor deals moving forward.

Looking back at the Paul George trade

The 2019 deal that sent Paul George to Los Angeles didn’t just deliver Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Oklahoma City but also handed the Thunder a treasure chest of draft assets. With those Clippers picks and swaps, Thunder GM Sam Presti rebuilt his roster piece by piece, adding franchise cornerstone Jalen Williams, now central to OKC’s championship core. The trade became the foundation of a sustainable contender.

For SGA, the move unlocked his stardom. In Oklahoma City, he developed into one of the NBA’s most dynamic guards, culminating in a 2025 season where he won MVP, Finals MVP, and led the Thunder to a title. The franchise that once viewed him as a “sweetener” in a blockbuster came to see him as the engine of a dynasty-in-the-making. Further, no wrongdoing has been found with respect to the OKC Thunder, or even the Paul George trade as far as the Clippers are concerned. That means that any action taking against this trade is simply punishing the wrong parties.

The Clippers’ side tells a different story. George’s four-year run in Los Angeles fell short of championship expectations, ending with his departure to Philadelphia in 2024. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard’s tenure is shadowed by the Aspiration contract investigation. What was once billed as the move that would elevate the Clippers into long-term contention has become a cautionary tale. At the same time, Oklahoma City thrives on the assets L.A. has sacrificed.