Adam Silver stresses urgency to end Clippers-Aspiration investigation: Wrap it up

What in the world is going on with the Clippers?It was eight months ago when reports surfaced that Steve Ballmer, owner of Los Angeles’ “other” team, was accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary cap rule by using Aspiration, a now-defunct green banking company, to pay star Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a “no show” job.Almost immediately once the accusations became public back in September 2025, an investigation, led by David Anders and the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, began.Ballmer and the Clippers initially welcomed the investigation, claiming innocence in two press releases sent out that day by saying, “Neither Mr.Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration.

Any contrary assertion is provably false.”However, eight months later and no definitive end appears in sight.And NBA commissioner Adam Silver has had enough.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “The investigation has been conducted by a law firm independent of the NBA,” Silver said Wednesday prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs.

“Yes, ultimately we’re paying their bills, but they are doing the work independent of the league office, and my instruction to them is we can’t be investigating forever, but at some point, we have to wrap it up.“But at the same time, the most important thing is that we get it right.”If Ballmer and the Clippers are to be believed — their innocence that is — then why has this investigation taken so long? The NBA had an entire regular season — and most likely an entire postseason — during that span, including the Clippers hosting NBA All-Star game in February.Silver spoke more on that topic Wednesday night.“I think it’s clear ...