The NBA is close to concluding its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers’ alleged salary cap violations, according to Commissioner Adam Silver. Speaking in San Antonio ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Silver expressed a desire to wrap up the inquiry soon, emphasizing the need for accuracy and finality.
The investigation, which began in September, was initiated to determine whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by facilitating a $28 million endorsement deal between star forward Kawhi Leonard and the now-bankrupt banking firm Aspiration. The Clippers had a long-term partnership with Aspiration, and the company’s co-founder, Joe Sanberg, was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for wire fraud. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer claims to have personally lost $60 million due to Aspiration’s collapse.
Silver stated that the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is conducting the investigation independently of the NBA office. “They are doing the work independent of the league office, and my instruction to them is we can’t be investigating forever, but at some point, we have to wrap it up. But at the same time, the most important thing is that we get it right,” Silver said. He noted the importance of reaching a conclusion so that the Clippers and the other 29 NBA teams understand their operational context.
NBA Expansion and Anti-Tanking Measures
In addition to the Clippers investigation, Silver addressed other significant NBA topics. He mentioned that expansion plans could be finalized by the end of the year, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the primary focus. “There’s multiple groups interested in both cities,” Silver noted, adding that discussions are ongoing and a decision is expected by the end of the calendar year.
Silver also expressed optimism about new anti-tanking rules, which were implemented to address teams’ strategic losses to secure higher draft picks. “We found ourselves in a situation this year where all of a sudden it seemed like a third of the league maybe was responding in what an economist would say is very rational behavior but nontraditional behavior,” Silver explained. The league concluded that immediate action was necessary to address these incentives.
Furthermore, Silver discussed plans for NBA Europe, which aims to establish 12 permanent teams, with four additional spots open for teams to earn places.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
