The NBA world was shocked (sort of) by allegations that Kawhi Leonard may have accepted an under-the-table payment as a way to circumvent the salary cap.
The news was broken by Pablo Torre, who alleges Kawhi took $28 million for a no-show job with a bogus tree-planting company, which sounds like something straight out of The Sopranos.
Exclusive: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a "no-show job" with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to documents obtained by @PabloTorre.
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 3, 2025
"It was to circumvent the salary cap," an inside source says. pic.twitter.com/F6z5pNEkI1
This isn’t the first time teams have been alleged or found shady ways to get around the salary cap, and it shows the reason the league needs one in the first place, otherwise, the team with the deepest pockets would have a huge advantage.
Few have deeper pockets than Steve Ballmer, who is one of the richest humans in the world and can peel off $50 million like you or I might spend ten dollars.
We’ve heard rumors of wink-wink payments going back to the beginning of the salary cap and I’d be surprised if Steve Ballmer (allegedly) was the first to do it.
It’s not a practice the Pistons would have had much use for, especially in recent years, as they’ve been nowhere near the luxury tax and haven’t attracted any free agents at discount prices that might raise eyebrows.
And when you look at the possible penalties for such offenses, it’s best they continue to follow the rules.
What is going to happen to the Clippers if the Kawhi Leonard allegations are true?
I should reiterate that these are just allegations and as far as we know, there hasn’t been any kind of investigation by the league. We will have to wait and see if one is coming, but right now, these are all allegations.
Any predictions about possible ramifications are also speculation, but we can get an idea of what they could face by a look at the rulebook when it comes to circumventing the cap. Sam Quinn did a quick breakdown that includes:
- Fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
- Fine of up to $5.5 million for a second offense.
- Loss of one first-round pick.
-The possibility of voiding contracts that involved circumvention.
In recent years, tampering charges have mostly cost teams second-round picks, but these allegations are far more serious and involve more than talking to a free agent during the moratorium.
This allegation is closer to the Joe Smith situation back in 2000 in which the Timberwolves were given a harsh punishment for cap circumvention that included the following, according to Keith Smith:
-5 first-round picks forfeited (two were returned later)
-$3.5M fine
-Smith's most-recent contract was voided, and his Bird Rights were stripped away
-Wolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended
-Wolves GM Kevin McHale was forced to take a leave of absence
Yikes.
Again, this is all speculation and there may end up being nothing to this, but if the Clippers get hit with something in that range it would sting.
Luckily, the Pistons are nowhere near this mess and need to keep it that way.