The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a federal criminal investigation tied to their alleged handling of Kawhi Leonard’s contracts and NBA salary-cap rules. Multiple outlets report that the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn has opened the probe, after an NBA punishment related to the same controversy.
The New York Times is cited as the source for details of the investigation, and some reports add that prosecutors are examining whether the team arranged improper or “secret” arrangements to structure Leonard’s pay in ways that would circumvent league limits. Fox News and the New York Post describe the matter in terms of whether individuals such as Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and the franchise sought such arrangements. Yahoo Sports characterizes the inquiry as early-stage.
City News Toronto also notes that a separate Raptors trade involving Leonard-related negotiations remains on hold, reflecting how the dispute continues to affect transactions even as the legal and league processes proceed. While outlets differ in emphasis—NBA punishment, alleged secrecy, or the scope and stage of the federal inquiry—they broadly agree on the central development: a new criminal investigation is underway.
