Overview
- On the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Vince Staples joked that actually planting trees could have sidestepped the controversy, recalling his role in the Clippers’ 2019 recruiting pitch for Kawhi Leonard.
- Pablo Torre reposted the clip and said Staples was "not wrong," reinforcing his earlier reporting on the Aspiration arrangement.
- Torre has reported that Leonard had a $28 million no‑show endorsement tied to Aspiration and funded by Steve Ballmer, allegedly contingent on Leonard remaining with the Clippers starting in 2022.
- Aspiration entered bankruptcy in March and listed KL2 Aspire LLC, linked to Leonard, as a $7 million creditor, with no public record of Leonard endorsing the company.
- Torre says Aspiration investors have sued Ballmer over the alleged funneling scheme, the Clippers have issued a categorical denial, and the league’s independent investigation remains active.