Pablo Torre Exposes Kawhi Leonard’s Lies as $28M Aspiration Deal Involvement Emerges

After a year of investigation, the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention case has finally come to a close. The NBA has found Leonard and the LA Clippers guilty of agreeing to illegal endorsement deals that would pay the star forward extra money outside the team's cap.

After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver punished the parties involved, Leonard reportedly claimed he did not know about the illegal money he received from Aspiration, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer's green banking company. The man who exposed the deal, sports journalist Pablo Torres, recently claimed that Leonard lied and is fully aware of what he got himself into.

"I’m a big fan of treating adults like adults," Torres said on the Stephen A. Smith Show. "Kawhi Leonard is 35 years old, and we have documents: an Aspiration contract, in fact, a $28 million contract in which his signature is on it."

"We have the money flows," Torres continued. "We have him actually in the NBA report, by the way, specifically. This is not Dennis Robertson. This is Mr. Leonard in the report, requesting that Aspiration flip how they were going to pay him. They initially were like, 'We’re going to give you the seven a year in stock and the four and the five a year in salary.'"

Whatever the case may be, Leonard got the lightest punishment out of everyone. While Ballmer and two other Clippers executives were banned for a year, Kawhi had to pay $700,000 in restitution. Leonard won't be suspended, nor will his contract with the Clippers be voided.

Because the case has been closed, as promised, the deal between the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors is expected to resume. Leonard will be traded to the Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick.

Kawhi Leonard Takes "Responsibility" For His Aspiration Deal

Despite several narratives depicting that Kawhi Leonard didn't know what was going on when he signed the endorsement deal with Steve Balmer's Aspiration, the star forward went on social media to own up to his mistakes.

Leonard posted a formal apology on Instagram. He mentioned that he's looking forward to his return to Toronto and is ready to start a new chapter, leaving the dirty mess in LA behind.

"Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am," Leonard wrote. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family."

"I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap," Leonard continued.

"For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with," Leonard added. "As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate."

Given the circumstances, we're unsure how the league will respond to Kawhi when the 2026-27 season begins. Leonard is going back to a team where he helped win one championship in his only season with the franchise. Despite the legacy he left in Toronto, we wouldn't be surprised if some become aloof.