Fresh woe for Clippers as federal investigation is launched into Kawhi Leonard scandal… just days after team was stripped of FIVE first-round picks

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have launched a criminal investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers skirted NBA salary-cap rules with under-the-table payments to All-Star Kawhi Leonard through the help of third-party side deals.

The investigation, which is said to be in its infancy, was first reported by The New York Times.

The NBA recently stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks, issued a $30 million fine to billionaire owner Steve Ballmer and suspended the former Microsoft CEO for one year following an investigation into the alleged improper payments.

The NBA has been investigating allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling money to Leonard through an endorsement deal with companies including Aspiration, a green banking firm that has since gone bankrupt as its co-founder Joseph Sandberg admitted to defrauding investors out of $248 million.

‘The investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules,’ read the league statement.

Although he was not suspended, Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits he and his uncle/representative Dennis Robertson received from the Clippers and other organizations. However, the 35-year-old Leonard will not have any contracts voided by the league as a result of the NBA investigation. 

Robertson, meanwhile, has been banned from any business dealings with the NBA.

Additionally, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank has been suspended without pay for six months while president of business operations Gillian Zucker got a one-year ban.

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