The NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers’ dealings with Kawhi Leonard continues to peel back layers of a situation that’s looking more tangled by the day. The latest development? A report that raises even more eyebrows about how the franchise has handled its relationship with Leonard and his inner circle-specifically, his uncle and longtime advisor, Dennis Robertson, better known around the league as “Uncle Dennis.”
According to a recent report, Uncle Dennis allegedly threatened to fire Kawhi’s personal trainer unless the trainer agreed to pay him a 10% “agent fee.” That’s not just an unusual ask-it’s a move that reportedly had the blessing of the Clippers themselves. The team is said to have known about the arrangement and signed off on it, effectively funneling more money to Uncle Dennis despite him having no formal role with the organization.
That detail alone would be enough to raise red flags, but it’s just the latest in a growing list of alleged side deals and off-the-books payments tied to Kawhi’s camp. Former Clippers GM Michael Winger reportedly voiced frustration about the scope of these arrangements, once asking, “How many f**king side deals have we made with Kawhi?” That quote paints a pretty stark picture of how deep this may go.
At the heart of these dealings are several LLCs linked to Kawhi’s team-companies like ‘KL2 Performance’ and ‘KL2 Aspire.’ These entities appear to have been used to route payments from the Clippers to Leonard’s circle in ways that avoid the standard salary cap structure. In essence, they created a financial ecosystem around Kawhi, one that may have quietly granted his camp a level of influence inside the franchise that goes far beyond the norm for a star player.
The scope of these arrangements reportedly includes millions of dollars in kickbacks and other forms of compensation. And it’s not just limited to Uncle Dennis.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s name has surfaced in connection with a now-defunct tree-planting company that allegedly made payments to Kawhi’s camp as well. That company, too, appears to have been part of a broader pattern of unconventional financial ties between the team and its star.
This isn’t the first time Uncle Dennis has been at the center of controversy, either. During Leonard’s free agency stint prior to joining the Clippers, there were reports that he made a series of aggressive demands-including a stake in the Toronto Maple Leafs-while negotiating with the Raptors. Those kinds of requests run afoul of league rules, and they’ve added to the perception that Leonard’s inner circle operates in a gray area that makes teams uncomfortable.
Now, as the NBA’s investigation continues, the Clippers are left in a precarious spot. They’ve already moved on from James Harden and Ivica Zubac, a sign that the franchise may be bracing for a reset. A Kawhi Leonard trade this summer isn’t out of the question, especially if the league comes down hard with penalties.
One of the biggest looming concerns? The potential loss of draft picks.
If the NBA determines that the Clippers knowingly circumvented the salary cap through these side deals, the punishment could be severe. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that went all-in on a championship run that, to this point, hasn’t even delivered a Finals appearance.
For now, the Clippers are in limbo-waiting on the league’s next move and hoping that the fallout doesn’t tear down what’s left of their current core. But with every new detail that surfaces, it’s becoming harder to argue that this was just business as usual.