Overview
- The league has empowered Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to re-examine Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 negotiations alongside its probe of a separate Aspiration endorsement with ties to Clippers interests.
- Reports say Dennis Robertson repeatedly asked the Lakers, Raptors and Clippers for perks barred by the CBA, including private jet access, a house, guaranteed endorsement money and even franchise equity.
- Lakers officials rejected the proposals as impermissible and, per reporting, privately laughed at the persistence; Jeanie Buss told Robertson to try to get other teams to put such terms in writing.
- The NBA previously reported no evidence that teams granted those benefits, but investigators now have authority to revisit the talks and any related transactions.
- No findings or penalties have been announced, and analysis suggests proving player culpability or securing a suspension would be difficult given precedent and arbitration hurdles.