RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers might not have a speedy resolution in sight, especially with new infringements being potentially discovered.
The NBA has been investigating Kawhi and the Clippers for potential under-the-table financial incentives to sign with the team and potential infringements of the NBA’s anti-tampering policy.
Everyone has known about the dubious marketing deal with the now-defunct Aspiration, but it seems there might be another layer to unwrap here.
Kawhi Leonard’s Rhode Island FC plans
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Pablo Torre, who uncovered the Aspiration scandal last September, has added that Leonard, his former agent, and Uncle Dennis Robertson are all minority owners of the United Soccer League franchise, Rhode Island FC.
Most USL clubs have very publicly accessible ways to find out who the team owners are, but RIFC hasn’t been as transparent.
They announced former Clippers center Daniel Theis joining their ownership group, but there’s never been a public acknowledgement of Leonard’s role as a minority owner.
Rhode Island FC founder Brett Johnson confirmed to WPRI that Leonard, uncle Dennis, and his former agent, Mitch Frankel, are all minority owners.
Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images
Leonard formed the KL2 RIFC LLC and KL2 RIFC Real Estate LLC in late 2023 and January 2024, a few months before signing another contract extension with the Clippers in the summer of 2024.
With recent reports suggesting the league could take until 2027 to finally deliver a judgment, it shows that there are more layers than just Aspiration at play.
The RIFC stadium project has received over $110 million in public funds, which explains why Leonard created two RIFC-related LLCs, with one being focused on real estate.
No known Clippers executive is linked to RIFC, with it being Leonard and his immediate advisor group and former NBA player Theis.
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