NBA investigating Clippers among claims Jerry West offered Kawhi Leonard’s friend $2.5M

According to The New York Times’ Marc Stein, the NBA is investigating claims that Los Angeles Clippers executive Jerry West offered to pay Johnny Wilkes, a friend of Kawhi Leonard, $2.5 million to aid in delivering the two-time Finals MVP to the team in the 2019 free agency.

On Monday, TMZ reported that Wilkes is suing West over an alleged failure to make that promise $2.5 million payment in place for his help in securing Leonard.

The LA Clippers have since forcefully denied the claims against West. The team wrote in a statement, “The law suit filled by Johnny Wilkes is replete with inaccuracies and the allegations are baseless.” “The Clippers are fully cooperating with the NBA in its investigation, which is standard when these types of allegations are made,” they wrote. They also added that they are providing the NBA with evidence to prove that the allegations are false.

This is not the only time the Clippers are being investigated due to events and allegations surrounding Leonard’s free agency. The Athletic’s Sam Amici reported that during the 2019-20 season, Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, was investigated for asking for improper benefits from teams looking to sign the superstar forward. No wrongdoing was found, but reports said that the league would resume the investigation if that changed.

There is no precedent for the NBA finding evidence of such an illegal recruiting tactic. The nearest example would probably be Joe Smith’s illegal contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1998. It was found that Smith has taken a below-market-value contract to join a Timberwolves team that would otherwise not have had the cap space to sign him knowing that he could sign a more lucrative deal later using Bird Rights.

As a result, the league stripped the Timberwolves four first-round picks and effectively suspended both owner Glen Taylor and general manager, Kevin McHale.

Source

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More like this

Top 10 Players With the Most Career Points in NBA History

Top 10 Players With the Most Career Points in...

As Kevin Durant becomes just the eighth player to surpass 30,000 career points in NBA regular-season history,...

Michael Oher Net Worth: Star of “The Blind Side,”...

Michael Oher Net Worth 2025: All You Need to Know The former NFL player you may be familiar...

Shaq Net Worth 2025: Exclusive Updates on the Athlete’s...

Shaq Net Worth: All You Need to Know Former NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, often known as Shaq, is...

Lakers vs Trail Blazers: How to Watch, Key Details,...

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers are set to face off in an exciting...

Warriors vs Suns: Steph Curry’s Injury Update and Game...

The highly anticipated Warriors vs Suns matchup is set to take place at the Chase Center, and...

LATEST NEWS

LSG vs MI IPL 2025: Dream11 Battle at Ekana Stadium – Fantasy Cricket Insights

The Indian Premier League 2025 season Dream11 reaches a critical juncture as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI) prepare to clash in...

Haier Lumiere: India’s First 4-Door Convertible Refrigerator

Discover Haier Lumiere, India’s only 4-door convertible side-by-side refrigerator. Blending style and innovation, it’s redefining luxury home appliances. Haier Unveils Groundbreaking Lumiere Refrigerator SeriesA Fusion...

FAST Fusion Announced for Switch 2 with 4K 60FPS & HDR

Amid the wave of Nintendo Switch 2 announcements, one of the most exciting reveals was FAST Fusion, a new installment in the zero-gravity racing...

Ultimate Summer Beach Fashion: 5 Celebrity Swimsuit Looks to Elevate Your Vacation Style

Summer is more than a season - it’s a celebration of freedom, self-expression, and unbridled joy. The perfect swimsuit is not just a piece...

Featured