The Kawhi Leonard case continues to generate controversy, and according to investigative journalist Pablo Torre during the Dan Patrick Showendorsement deals involving companies that did business with the Clippers may have reached at least $66 million.
Torre explained that the deal with Aspirationalready at the center of his investigation that led to the NBA probe into possible salary-cap circumvention, was worth $48 million in totalincluding $28 million in cash and the remainder in additional benefits. That figure is added to the deals with Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance which, according to the NBA investigation, would have provided Leonard with $18 million through 2021.
Those three companies, according to the NBA investigation, guaranteed $18 million to Kawhi Leonard through 2021. So, doing the math, we’re at about $66 million through 2022. He re-signs with the Clippers, and as I’ve said before on my show, at a discount. A discount. Less than the max. Why, and what happened?
Pablo Torre on the Dan Patrick Show
The extension Torre is referring to is the one Leonard signed in January 2024: a three-year, $153 million extensionbelow the $220 million maximum available under a four-year deal. The journalist also brought up the case of Rhode Island FCclaiming that Leonard received an undisclosed ownership stake shortly before signing his extension with the Clippers.
Regarding Rhode Island FC, he received a secret ownership stake that was not disclosed the week before he signed the extension. And I keep wondering, as always, what else is there? And I have the feeling, as always, that there’s much more
Pablo Torre on the Dan Patrick Show
The Kawhi Leonard-Clippers casein other words, appears to be far from over. Pablo Torre continues to piece together new details and, if the reconstructed figures are accurate, the $66 million in endorsement deals may not even be the final number. The question Torre ends his segment with is probably the most intriguing one of all: what else is still waiting to come to light?