Wed Sep 3 2:19pm ET
Field Level Media
The Los Angeles Clippers are being accused of trying to get around NBA salary cap rules by feeding $28 million to superstar Kawhi Leonard in the form of a "no-show" endorsement deal with a now-bankrupt company partially funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to an extensive report by podcaster and former ESPN contributor Pablo Torre.
Ballmer reportedly gave $50 million in funding to the sustainability business Aspiration, which has faced accusations of fraud and whose co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, agreed to plead guilty in August to defrauding multiple investors.
According to a document obtained by Torre and reportedly signed by Leonard, the six-time NBA All-Star was to receive $28 million in cash from Aspiration over the course of four years between 2022 and 2025, as long as he was playing for the Clippers.
However, there is no record of Leonard doing any marketing for, mentioning or endorsing Aspiration, as would be expected in such an endorsement deal.
"It was to circumvent the salary cap," a source who used to work for Aspiration told Torre on the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast.
The Clippers denied the accusations in Torre's report, saying in a statement Wednesday, "Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false."
According to the report by Torre, legal documents from Aspiration's March 2025 bankruptcy filing show parties that remain to be paid, including KL2 Aspire LLC, a corporation that shows Leonard as its manager, which Aspiration still owes $7 million.
Leonard originally signed with the Clippers in 2019 before agreeing to a three-year contract extension worth around $150 million in early 2024.
The 34-year-old won the NBA Finals MVP award both times he earned NBA championship titles (2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, 2019 with the Toronto Raptors). He also has two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name.
He missed the 2021-22 campaign following knee surgery and has been limited in each of the past three seasons due to ongoing knee issues. He averaged 21.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in just 37 games last season.
In 13 seasons with the Spurs, Raptors and Clippers, the six-time All-Star has averaged 20.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 733 games.
Accusations of circumventing the salary cap are rare. The most well-known case involved the Minnesota Timberwolves getting hit in 2000 with a $3.5 million fine and losing five first-round draft picks (later amended to three) for signing an illegal secret agreement with power forward Joe Smith.
Any potential punishment for the Clippers' actions would likely not be so severe under the current CBA, which allows for a fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense, the forfeiture of one first-round draft pick, and/or the voiding of any contracts or transaction that violated league rules.
Point guard Reece Beekman has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic. After his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets, Beekman hopes for another shot in the NBA next season. In his first year in the league, Beekman averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 assists in 13.0 minutes, making 36 appearances. Following his rookie year, the Denver Nuggets also gave Beekman a look by picking him up for Summer League action. It's an uphill battle for Beekman to earn a spot on the Magic squad, as the team is well-stocked at the point guard position, with Tyus Jones joining Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black this summer.
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama finished Spain's 67-63 loss to Italy at EuroBasket with a double-double on Tuesday, scoring a game-high 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Both marks were team-highs, and Aldama also led Spain with four assists. He shot 6-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range. On the defensive end, Aldama contributed one steal and one block. Spain, which won its fourth EuroBasket title in 2022, is struggling in this year's edition, but Aldama has been a consistent performer. The 24-year-old has averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.3 minutes. Aldama's role on the Grizzlies squad has grown with each year, along with his fantasy stock, and he looks set to remain a solid option for managers in 2025-26.
New York Knicks power forward Guerschon Yabusele rocked Poland during France's 83-76 victory at EuroBasket on Tuesday, racking up a national team career-high 36 points. He went berserk from deep, shooting 6-for-12, and finished 12-for-20 overall from the field. Yabusele wrapped up his stat line with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. This was the third-highest scoring outing ever by a French player in a EuroBasket contest. Yabusele's offensive explosion came out of nowhere, as he had notched only 24 total points across the first three games. Following a strong year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Yabusele finds himself in the Big Apple and looks like a good fit for the Knicks, bringing energy and a versatile skillset to the frontcourt.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic scored a game-high 26 points as Slovenia secured its spot in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket with an 87-79 victory over Iceland on Tuesday. Doncic was limited to 8-for-22 shooting, going 2-for-10 from downtown, but he still enjoyed a productive outing. The Mavericks superstar added seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block to his stat line. Doncic leads EuroBasket in scoring with an average of 31.3 points and is second in assists with 8.3 per game. After working hard on his physique over the summer, Doncic might be ready to deliver his best fantasy campaign yet.
Small forward Justin Minaya has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic. He will join the team for training camp, aiming to earn a spot on the roster. Over his first three years as a pro, Minaya has made 57 appearances in the NBA, all with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, his workload has been very limited, with Minaya averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.0 minutes. In the G League, Minaya has posted 12.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for his career. Every player begins training camp with a clean slate, but it seems unlikely that Minaya can force himself into Orlando's plans for the 2025-26 season.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (knee) believes he has a chance to participate in training camp. "Yeah, my plan, for sure, is to participate," said McCain, "I mean, anything can happen, but for right now, I'm on pace." The 2024 No. 16 overall pick was in the mix for Rookie of the Year honors last season, averaging 15.3 points, including 23.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in eight starts. Unfortunately, his season came to an early end after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee, resulting in surgery. Only time will tell if McCain will be ready to go when the Sixers begin the 2025 campaign versus the Boston Celtics on October 22. Still, even if he is, it's possible he'll be on a minutes restriction. He may also not be a routine fantasy producer as long as Tyrese Maxey is available.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun continued to feast at the EuroBasket on Monday and hit a special milestone in Turkey's 84-64 win over Estonia. He became the first player in 30 years to post 20-plus points, five-plus rebounds, and five-plus assists in three consecutive EuroBasket games. The Rockets star finished the game with 21 points, eight boards, five assists, one steal, and one block, shooting 8-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. In the tournament, Sengun is the ninth-highest scorer with 20.0 points per game, ranks fourth with 8.8 rebounds, and third with 6.5 assists. He's a uniquely talented big man, and it's scary to think how much potential Sengun still has, given he only turned 23 in July.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner needed only 18 minutes of action to record a double-double in Germany's 120-57 victory over Great Britain on Monday. He put up 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, hitting 3-for-4 from downtown, and dished out 10 assists. Wagner's easy day at the office included one rebound and one steal. The German star has been incredibly efficient at EuroBasket, filling the box score despite averaging only 23.2 minutes. Wagner has registered 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He is shooting 50 percent from three and boasts an overall shooting percentage of 55.8. Last season, Wagner took a big leap in the NBA, and his play for Germany suggests that he will be even better in 2025-26.
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic recorded his third double-double in four games as Montenegro beat Sweden 87-81 at EuroBasket 2025 on Monday. The Bulls big man dominated throughout 36 minutes on the floor, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks. Vucevic was hot from downtown with a 3-for-4 record and shot 9-for-15 overall from the field. Lauri Markkanen and Finland managed to hold him to seven points, but overall, Vucevic has had a very productive tournament. He's the leading rebounder in the tournament with 11.8 boards per game and has notched 18.3 points with 3.8 assists. Vucevic is entering a contract year with the Bulls and appears to be in great shape, which should be encouraging news for fantasy managers.
Atlanta Hawks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis looked back to his best during Monday's EuroBasket action. The former All-Star helped Latvia beat his former Boston teammate Neemias Queta and Portugal 78-62. Porzingis scored a game-high 21 points in 26 minutes, shooting 5-for-12 from behind the arc. He finished 6-for-14 from the field, with nine rebounds, three assists, and one block. When the tournament started, Porzingis looked way off form, as he was limited to 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting in Latvia's first game against Turkey. His performances have since then improved significantly. Over four outings, Porzingis has averaged 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 27.9 minutes. With last year's health issues behind him, Porzingis could be ready for a big fantasy season in Atlanta.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (hand) reportedly suffered a minor injury at the EuroBasket tournament. Jovic sustained a minor hand injury, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. The injury occurred during Serbia's 82-60 victory over Czechia on Monday. Jovic finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds, logging 23 minutes on the floor. The young Heat forward has played well for Serbia and could take on a larger role for the rest of the tournament due to Bogdan Bogdanovic's (hamstring) injury. However, that will depend on whether he can play through his hand injury. The issue may also affect his preparations for the new NBA season.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (illness) was cleared to return in July after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder last season. He last suited up in February's All-Star game before the condition ended his season abruptly. While the 21-year-old hasn't played since then, NBA insider Marc Stein mentioned he has "played in some recent full court runs at Loyola Marymount" and has "looked quite stellar." This is certainly another positive update regarding Wembanyama, who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals last season. Without question, the team will presumably be overly cautious with him moving ahead. However, that shouldn't stop fantasy managers from viewing Wemby as a top-five fantasy option, especially since he has MVP potential.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is "staying in Milwaukee to start the season." Charania's latest report comes after the Bucks brought back Giannis' older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal on Sunday. The two-time MVP is coming off another quality year, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 67 games. With that in mind, Charania didn't rule out a trade request at some point in the future. For now, he'll remain in Milwaukee, where he's expected to stay in the MVP conversation. Antetokounmpo should be considered a top-five fantasy option, although his stock may be a few spots lower in category formats due to his horrendous shooting percentages from deep and the charity stripe. He's also been known to battle nagging injuries throughout his career, which won't make him as safe of a fantasy option as Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The 33-year-old spent five seasons with the Bucks before missing the 2024 campaign because of a torn Achilles. In 198 regular-season contests in Milwaukee, he averaged 2.4 points while winning an NBA championship in 2021. All that considered, Antetokounmpo won't see any interest from fantasy managers, considering he probably won't play much. However, the new deal likely means his younger brother, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, isn't going anywhere in the near future after months of trade rumblings.
According to Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, guard Kyrie Irving (knee) is "ahead of schedule" concerning his rehab efforts. The All-Star suffered a torn ACL in March, requiring surgery. The Mavs expect him back in 2026, and although he's making significant progress, the team has been "careful not to attach a timetable" regarding a return. Irving, who agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract in the offseason after declining his $43 million player option, stated he's "healing up great." There is also a recent video of him "moving comfortably on the court." Despite Irving's lengthy NBA career, he's still playing at an exceptional level, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 2024. While it appears he's no longer involved in off-the-court drama like earlier in his career, he still has issues staying healthy. With that in mind, Irving is certainly worth drafting and stashing in all fantasy formats until he's cleared to suit up.
Free-agent guard Dante Exum agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Dallas Mavericks. There was talk about a new contract over the last few months. However, with Dallas recently waiving Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the Mavs finally had the cap space needed to make it official. The 2014 No. 5 overall pick played overseas before returning to the National Basketball Association with the Mavericks, where he spent the last two seasons. He averaged a career-high 8.7 points per contest last season while shooting 43.4% from deep. With Kyrie Irving (knee) sidelined, Exum should see extra minutes to begin the 2025 campaign. That won't make him a consistently reliable fantasy option, although there could be streaming opportunities for managers throughout the year, especially if D'Angelo Russell misses time.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) will miss the remainder of EuroBasket 2025. The 33-year-old, who was suiting up for Serbia, suffered a hamstring injury during the August 29 meeting with Portugal. Unfortunately, it was determined Bogdanovic suffered a ruptured hamstring muscle. He began the 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks before being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of the trade deadline. In 30 contests in Los Angeles, Bogdanovic averaged 11.4 points and 42.7% shooting from behind the arc. The veteran is expected to remain one of the first options off the bench for the Clippers in 2025. However, there's a good chance he'll miss time to begin the season, especially since hamstring injuries have been a common theme for him throughout the years. If that's the case, guys like Chris Paul, Kris Dunn, and Derrick Jones Jr. could benefit.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks waived forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper on Friday. The Mavs selected the 23-year-old using the No. 24 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, he didn't do much on the statistical end, averaging only 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 92 appearances for Dallas. There's a good chance he'll catch on with another club at some point during the 2025 campaign. Still, Prosper has some work to do before earning a routine spot in any rotation. Until that happens, he's not worth adding to any fantasy roster. Prosper also isn't worth keeping in dynasty formats.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen scored 43 points in Finland's 109-79 win over Great Britain. He added two rebounds and four steals. The 28-year-old averaged 19.0 points in 2024, his lowest since joining the Jazz in 2022. He was also limited to 47 games. Markkanen has played well in Finland's two EuroBasket contests so far, so fantasy managers are certainly hoping he can carry that momentum into the 2025 campaign. If so, he's more than capable of earning another trip to the All-Star game. With that in mind, there are some who believe he might be traded during the season, which would impact his ceiling. However, if Markkanen stays in Utah, there's a chance he could be held out late in the season if the Jazz aren't in the playoff conversation heading into the final stretch. With Finland at 2-0, the club will look to keep it going by capturing a victory over Montenegro.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic scored 18 points in Serbia's EuroBasket win over Portugal. He added six boards and one steal. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 10.7 points last season. Unfortunately, he missed time, mostly due to a broken hand. While there are plenty of capable scoring options in Miami this season, Jovic has a real chance to carve out a routine role in Erik Spoelstra's rotation. If that happens, he could be in line for his best year to date. However, Jovic must stay on the floor, with the 2022 No. 27 overall pick logging 46 games or fewer in each of his three seasons in the National Basketball Association. With another win, Serbia will look to keep it going versus Latvia on Saturday.
Rotate for more data.