Kawhi Leonard, results of the Aspirations investigation will come after the All-Star break

With NBA All-Star Weekend begins Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the league’s investigation of Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard regarding potential salary cap bypass related to Aspiration is expected to be completed after the break.

According to a joint report released Friday by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunow, the results of an independent review by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz are not expected until sometime next week. The timing of the decision comes shortly after commissioner Adam Silver and league officials gather in Los Angeles for an All-Star ceremony hosted by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

“In publicly available bankruptcy filings reviewed by The Athletic, Aspiration’s top three creditors are listed as the Clippers, who say they are owed $30 million by an environmental company; Forum Entertainment (also owned by Ballmer, claiming to be owed $11 million); and Leonard’s personal $2 million limited liability company, Vardon,” the KL claim wrote Vorkunov.

The report detailed the financial timeline Leonardo’s endorsement deal with Aspiration. Leonard registered his limited liability company in November 2021, and his $28 million contract with the environmental firm began in April 2022. By December 2022, Aspiration was experiencing financial problems.

NBA review of Aspiration payments looms over Clippers’ midseason turnaround

Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong invested $2 million in the company during that period. Soon after, Aspiration paid Leonard $1.75 million, matching the quarterly payment structure outlined in his contract. A few months later, Ballmer invested an additional $10 million as part of a fundraising round in which Wong was reportedly the only new investor.

Those transactions are part of an NBA review into whether any financial arrangements between Leonard and Aspiration constituted an improper benefit in connection with his contract with the Clippers.

The franchise enters All-Star weekend in the midst of a season marked by turbulence and transition. Los Angeles opened the year 6-21 before rebounding to a 26-28 record at the break. At the trade deadline, The Clippers dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Dario Garland. In a special trade with the Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles sent Ivica Zubac to Indiana and received Benedict Maturin, Isaiah Jackson, two first round picks and one second round pick.

Leonard, now 34, is in the midst of one of the most productive campaigns of his career. In 41 games, he is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 38.3% from three-point range and 91.2% from the free throw line in 32.8 minutes per game.

While Leonard’s production on the court has helped stabilize the Clippers’ season, the looming results of the Aspirations investigation continue to cast a shadow over the organization. With All-Star festivities underway at Ballmer’s newly constructed arena, league results are expected to shed light on one of the NBA’s most watched things off the court.