Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry stated he does not consider L.A. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer tried to bypass the NBA’s wage cap by working with a third-party firm to surreptitiously pay celebrity Kawhi Leonard in 2021
“It isn’t one thing I’d ever consider,” Lasry informed CNBC in an unique interview. “I’ve at all times discovered him to observe the foundations and do what’s proper.”
Journalist and podcast host Pablo Torre reported earlier this month that Leonard had signed a $28 million sponsorship cope with an organization known as Aspiration. The deal required the NBA ahead to do virtually nothing with Aspiration to gather the cash.
Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration. Torre reported that sources from inside Aspiration informed him the aim of the deal was for the Clippers to bypass the league’s wage cap by paying Leonard more cash off the books. The NBA has begun an investigation primarily based on his reporting.
Lasry stated there’s at all times stress to win within the NBA, however “there’s not stress to skirt the foundations.”
“Within the NBA, all people is aware of the foundations. You observe it, and it is as a result of you recognize that if you happen to do not, you are simply going to get in numerous bother,” he stated.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied the allegations of wage cap circumvention. Aspiration filed for chapter earlier this yr and its co-founders have been charged with fraud.
“I believe it is most likely numerous smoke, however I do not assume there’s a lot there,” stated Lasry.
Lasry agreed to promote his stake within the Bucks in 2023 to Cleveland Browns house owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam at a $3.5 billion valuation.
