Kawhi Leonard's 2019 free agency is back under the microscope.
Dan Woike reported through The Athletic that Leonard's representatives, including his uncle Dennis Robertson, asked the Los Angeles Lakers for several benefits that league sources described as impermissible. The reported requests included use of private aircraft, a home, guaranteed off-court earnings and even an ownership stake in the team.
According to the report, the Lakers told Leonard's side those requests would violate the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and amount to salary-cap circumvention. Leonard eventually chose the LA Clippers, who are now facing a separate NBA investigation tied to alleged cap-circumvention questions involving Aspiration.
The latest wrinkle came after the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast reported that Leonard had a previously undisclosed sponsorship deal with Daktronics, the company connected to the Intuit Dome's Halo video board. The podcast cited anonymous sources inside the Clippers and Intuit Dome project.
The NBA did not respond to The Athletic's request for comment on the newest allegations, and the Clippers also had not responded, according to the report. That leaves the clearest public facts in the reported category: Leonard's camp allegedly made similar benefit requests to the Lakers, the Lakers declined, and the Clippers' later relationship with Leonard is now drawing fresh league attention.
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