Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was reportedly paid $28 million by a company funded by team owner Steve Ballmer that helped the Clippers evade the NBA salary cap, according to a report by Pablo Torre on Wednesday.
Torre exhaustively laid out evidence suggesting that was the case during his show, “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” Over the course of the 80-minute program, Torre details a now-bankrupt company named Aspiration, which paid $28 million to KL2 Aspire LLC, a company owned by Leonard. Clauses in the contract between Aspiration and Leonard’s company indicated Leonard wouldn’t have to do anything other than be a member of the Clippers to receive that money. One employee spoke with Torre, saying they were told Leonard’s contract was a way to “circumvent the salary cap.”
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One key figure referenced several times during Torre’s investigation was Dennis Robertson, otherwise known as Uncle Dennis. Robertson, who was subject to an NBA investigation in 2019, reportedly also played a role in the Aspiration scandal.
Who is Uncle Dennis, and what happened with his previous investigation? Here’s what you need to know about Robertson and his relationship with Leonard.
Who is Uncle Dennis?
Uncle Dennis is Dennis Robertson. Some publications have referred to Robertson as Leonard’s adviser. Robertson is also Leonard’s actual uncle.
What is Uncle Dennis’ role in the Aspiration scandal?
Robertson’s name was listed on a contract between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire LLC. The specific sentence pertaining to Robertson specified that all “communication required or permitted under this Agreement” be sent to Robertson. In addition to that, Robertson was listed in the contract as Leonard’s “designated representative.”
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The former Aspiration employee who spoke with Torre mentioned that a top priority at Aspiration was making sure Leonard’s contract got paid, and that Robertson called to demand payment when the company got in a rough financial situation.
At the least, Robertson’s name being on legal documents proves he had some involvement in the two companies involved in the alleged scandal. While Robertson’s name being on documents doesn’t necessarily prove anything, it does potentially give the NBA evidence to reopen its 2019 investigation into Leonard’s free agency.
Why was Uncle Dennis investigated by the NBA in 2019?
Robertson was at the center of an NBA investigation focusing on whether he asked teams for impermissible benefits during Leonard’s free-agent process. Robertson was accused of asking for part ownership of the team, a private plane to be available to Leonard at all times and a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that could be guaranteed to Leonard if he played for that team, per The Athletic.
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Robertson was accused of making those asks to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss reportedly informed Robertson at the time that those types of benefits were illegal.
What did the NBA find in its 2019 investigation of Uncle Dennis?
After looking into the situation, the league claimed it had no evidence that the Clippers granted illegal benefits to Leonard during his free agency. The team, Leonard and Robertson did not face punishment as a result of the investigation.
The league, however, threatened it could reopen its investigation into the situation if new evidence were presented. At the time, a source told Sam Amick of The Athletic that NBA commissioner Adam Silver considered the issue “a cardinal sin of the NBA.”
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How did the NBA respond to the 2019 investigation?
In September 2019, the league introduced harsher penalties for free-agent tampering. The NBA doubled fines for tampering and passed a rule allowing Silver to take phones and laptops away from team executives to check for impermissible communication.
That wasn’t necessarily a direct response to Leonard’s situation. Tampering allegations surrounded a number of players around the league for multiple years before the league finally cracked down on the practice in 2019.
How did the Clippers respond to the Aspiration allegations?
Representatives for the team and for owner Steve Ballmer reached out to Torre and denied circumventing the salary cap. They also released a lengthy statement on Wednesday night.
Torre also reached out to Leonard and Robertson, but did not receive a response from either party before Torre went public with the story.
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How did the NBA respond to the Aspiration allegations?
An NBA spokesperson told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that the league is aware of Torre’s report, and is “commencing an investigation.”
What’s next for the NBA, Clippers and Uncle Dennis?
With the NBA now reportedly opening an investigation, a number of parties could be punished based on what the league finds.
Other than damage control — which both the Clippers and Ballmer have already started — there’s not much the other parties involved can do until the NBA reaches out as part of its investigation.
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