[外絮] NBA查不到證據顯示Ballmer透過贊助商將資金轉給Leonard
The NBA has found no evidence showing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer
funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to
circumvent the salary cap, according to three people with knowledge of
discussions between the two sides in recent days.
根據三名了解雙方近日討論內容的消息人士透露，NBA並未發現任何證據顯示洛杉磯快艇老闆Steve Ballmer曾透過球隊贊助商將資金轉給Kawhi Leonard，藉此規避薪資上限。
Instead, the NBA is focused on whether the team's introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of the league's rules prohibiting
salary cap circumvention, two of the sources said. The league is examining whether the Clippers are guilty of "failure to supervise" employees, though it's unclear what specific rule the team would have violated or what the penalties would be, two of the sources said.
相反地，NBA目前調查的重點，是快艇將Leonard介紹給球隊贊助商的行為，是否構成違反聯盟禁止規避薪資上限的相關規定。兩名消息人士表示，聯盟正在審查快艇是否涉及對員工"監督不周"的問題，不過目前尚不清楚球隊具體違反了哪一項規則，也不清楚可能面臨何種處罰。
The 11-month investigation into salary cap circumvention allegations expanded beyond Leonard's deal with Aspiration, the now-defunct green banking company at the center of the allegations, to at least three other companies that also had deals with the Clippers, two of the sources familiar with the talks told ESPN. However, sources said, the league has presented no evidence that
Ballmer funneled money to Leonard.
這項針對規避薪資上限指控的調查已持續11個月，調查範圍也從Leonard與目前已倒閉、同時也是整起指控核心的綠色金融公司Aspiration之間的合約，擴大至至少另外三家同樣與快艇有合作關係的公司。兩名了解相關討論的消息人士向ESPN透露了上述資訊。不過，消息人士表示，聯盟至今並未提出任何證據，證明Ballmer曾將資金轉給Leonard。
The league presented initial findings of its investigation, led by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to the Clippers in late July, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. In recent days, both sides have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation, the people said. Those talks -- led by attorney David N. Kelley of law firm O'Melveny & Myers for Ballmer and the Clippers, and NBA general counsel Rick Buchanan -- at times have been "spirited," one source said.
據多名了解此事的人士透露，由律師事務所Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz主導的聯盟調查，已於7月下旬向快艇提出初步調查結果。這些人士表示，最近幾天，雙方一直在協商如何解決這項調查。相關談判由代表Ballmer與快艇的O'Melveny & Myers律師事務所律師David N. Kelley，以及NBA法律總顧問Rick Buchanan主導。一名消息人士形容，雙方的談判有時相當"激烈"。
A spokesman for the NBA did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
A spokesman for the Clippers declined to answer questions about the nature or content of the NBA's initial findings or the ongoing discussions. But in a statement provided to ESPN, the Clippers said the team "introduced players, including Kawhi Leonard, to companies with which we had business
relationships. Making introductions between players and team partners is both an ordinary practice by NBA teams and a common request of players and
representatives."
NBA發言人並未回應多次置評請求。
快艇發言人則拒絕回答有關NBA初步調查結果的性質、內容，以及目前雙方協商情況的相關問題。
不過，快艇在提供給ESPN的聲明中表示：
"球隊曾將包括Kawhi Leonard在內的球員介紹給與我們有商業合作關係的公司。替球員與球隊合作夥伴牽線，在NBA球隊之間是一種很常見的做法，同時也是球員及其經紀團隊經常提出的要求。"
The statement also said the team did not "negotiate or dictate" the terms of Leonard's endorsement deals. "The fact that a player has an endorsement
relationship with a company that also does business with his team is not evidence of salary-cap circumvention," according to the statement.
The NBA's investigation began after a September 2025 report from podcaster Pablo Torre that cited internal documents showing Ballmer invested $50
million in Aspiration, through his personal LLC in September 2021. That
month, the Clippers also signed a $300 million deal with Aspiration, making the company the "first founding partner" of the Intuit Dome.
聲明還表示，球隊並未"協商或決定"Leonard代言合約的條款。
聲明指出："一名球員與某家公司存在代言合作關係，而該公司同時也與他所屬的球隊有商業往來，這項事實本身並不能作為規避薪資上限的證據。"
NBA的調查始於2025年9月。當時，Podcast主持人Pablo Torre發布了一篇報導，引用內部文件指出，Ballmer曾於2021年9月透過自己的LLC向Aspiration投資5000萬美元。
同月，快艇也與Aspiration簽下一份價值3億美元的合作協議，使該公司成為Intuit Dome的"首位創始合作夥伴"。
Then, in April 2022, Aspiration signed a $28 million endorsement deal with Leonard. An unnamed employee who purportedly worked for the banking company told Torre that Leonard's sponsorship deal "was to circumvent the salary cap," and the report characterized the contract as a "no-show" job. Ballmer made an additional $10 million investment in Aspiration on March 9, 2023.
接著在2022年4月，Aspiration與Leonard簽下了一份價值2800萬美元的代言合約。一名據稱曾任職於Aspiration、但未具名的員工向Torre表示，Leonard的這份贊助合約"就是為了規避薪資上限"，而該篇報導則將這份合約形容為一份"掛名領錢、實際無須工作的合約"。2023年3月9日，Ballmer又向Aspiration額外投資了1000萬美元。
The league's investigation examined deals with companies including Daktronics and Boingo Wireless, which was a wireless provider for the Intuit Dome,
sources familiar with the inquiry said. Earlier this month, Torre reported that Leonard had a previously undisclosed sponsorship agreement allegedly worth millions of dollars with Daktronics, the South Dakota-based company that designed the Clippers' videoboard inside the Intuit Dome. But like
Aspiration, there's no evidence that Ballmer funneled money through those companies, and in the recent discussions, the league has only focused on those companies in the context of introducing them to Leonard and his
representatives, sources said.
據熟悉調查內容的消息人士透露，聯盟的調查也檢視了與其他公司的合作，包括
Daktronics與Boingo Wireless，後者是Intuit Dome的無線網路服務供應商。本月稍早，Torre報導指出，Leonard曾與Daktronics簽有一份先前未公開、據稱價值數百萬美元的贊助合約。Daktronics是一家總部位於南達科他州的公司，負責設計快艇主場Intuit Dome內的巨型螢幕。不過，就像Aspiration的情況一樣，目前並沒有證據顯示Ballmer曾透過這些公司將資金轉給Leonard。消息人士表示，在近期的討論中，聯盟針對這些公司的關注點，也僅限於快艇是否曾將這些公司介紹給Leonard及其經紀團隊。
A spokesperson for Boingo did not respond to a request for comment. A
spokesperson for Daktronics has declined to comment on anything related to Leonard or the Clippers.
Over the past 11 months, the Clippers and Ballmer have maintained that they had no involvement in Leonard's deal with Aspiration and have denied
allegations they broke league rules. The day after Torre's report, Ballmer told ESPN that Aspiration asked to be introduced to Leonard, and that the team made the introduction in November 2021. He said he "eventually learned they had reached a deal" and denied he directed the company to strike one.
Boingo的發言人並未回應置評請求。Daktronics的發言人則拒絕評論任何與Leonard或快艇相關的事情。
在過去11個月裡，快艇與Ballmer始終堅稱，他們並未參與Leonard與Aspiration之間的合約，並否認任何違反聯盟規則的指控。在Torre的報導刊出隔天，Ballmer向ESPN表示，是Aspiration主動要求球隊將他們介紹給Leonard，而球隊則於2021年11月替雙方牽線。Ballmer表示，他"後來才得知雙方已經達成協議"，並否認自己曾指示Aspiration與Leonard簽訂合約。
"Salary cap circumvention rules are important to the league, and I'd want the league to investigate," Ballmer told ESPN at the time.
Shortly after the allegations arose, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said it's up to the NBA to prove wrongdoing during its investigation. "I would be
reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety. ... I think that the goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety," he said.
"薪資上限規避規則對聯盟而言非常重要，我也希望聯盟能夠進行調查，"Ballmer當時向ESPN表示。
在相關指控出現後不久，NBA總裁Adam Silver表示，在調查過程中，舉證證明確實存在違規行為的責任在NBA一方。"如果只是存在某種表面上看起來不當的情況，我會對採取行動有所保留......我認為進行全面調查的目的，就是要查清楚是否真的存在不當行為。"Silver表示。
Ballmer has insisted repeatedly in conversations with confidants that he will not accept a league result that asserts he or the team intended to circumvent the salary cap and would instead bring the matter to arbitration, according to multiple sources with knowledge of his thinking. However, the
conversations between Kelley and Buchanan are ongoing, and it's unclear what NBA punishment Ballmer or the team might be willing to accept or if they choose to fight findings through arbitration.
據多名了解Ballmer想法的消息人士透露，Ballmer在與親近人士的談話中一再堅稱，他不會接受任何認定他本人或球隊"有意規避薪資上限"的聯盟調查結果；如果NBA做出這樣的認定，他將把此事提交仲裁。不過，Kelley與Buchanan之間的協商目前仍在持續，因此尚不清楚Ballmer或快艇願意接受NBA何種程度的處罰，也不確定他們最終是否會選擇透過仲裁來挑戰聯盟的調查結果。
A finding of salary cap circumvention would constitute a violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. As such, all parties -- including the Clippers and the union -- must agree on the findings and on any discipline. ESPN reported last month that sources close to the NBPA said the union wouldn't hesitate to take the matter to arbitration if the NBA sought penalties without sufficient evidence.
若調查認定存在規避薪資上限的行為，就將構成違反NBA與NBA球員工會之間的勞資協議。因此，包括快艇與球員工會在內的所有相關方，都必須對調查結果以及任何懲處措施達成共識。ESPN上個月曾報導，接近NBPA的消息人士表示，如果NBA在缺乏充分證據的情況下仍試圖祭出處罰，球員工會將毫不猶豫地把此案提交仲裁。
Two sources familiar with the NBPA's thinking and the arbitration process said an argument that a sponsor introduction counts as salary cap
circumvention likely would not survive. One of the sources said, "That's dead on arrival."
Early in the recent negotiations between the NBA and the Clippers, lawyers for the league raised a decades-old salary cap circumvention case as a
template for punishment, according to two sources with knowledge of the
discussions. The NBA penalized the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000 by taking five first-round draft picks and fining the team $3.5 million after the team signed an illegal secret agreement with forward Joe Smith that promised him a multi-year, multimillion-dollar extension. (The team's 2003 and 2005 draft picks were eventually restored.)
兩名熟悉NBPA立場及仲裁程序的消息人士表示，若主張"將球員介紹給贊助商"本身就構成規避薪資上限，這樣的論點在仲裁中很可能站不住腳。其中一名消息人士表示:"這種說法一開始就不可能成立。"
據兩名了解討論內容的消息人士透露，在NBA與快艇近期協商的初期階段，聯盟律師曾引用一宗數十年前的薪資上限規避案件，作為可能懲處的參考範本。2000年，明尼蘇達灰狼與前鋒Joe Smith私下簽訂一份違規的秘密協議，承諾未來提供他一份多年、價值數百萬美元的延長合約。NBA因此對灰狼做出處分，沒收球隊5個首輪選秀權，並處以350萬美元罰款。(球隊2003年與2005年的選秀權後來獲得歸還。)
The physical evidence of the under-the-table agreement helped establish one of the strongest penalties ever imposed for any NBA franchise or player, and it led to Smith's contract being voided, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor being suspended and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale taking a forced leave of absence.
這份私下協議所留下的實質證據，使聯盟得以做出NBA史上針對球隊或球員最嚴厲的處分之一。這也導致Joe Smith的合約遭到作廢、灰狼老闆Glen Taylor被禁賽，以及籃球營運副總裁Kevin McHale被迫暫時離職。
One league insider with direct knowledge of league business said a salary cap circumvention penalty based on player introductions is "an outrageous
overreach" and that "it's the job of players' agents to ask for introductions to sponsors and potential endorsers." The person also said that if the league punishes the Clippers for introducing a player to a team sponsor, it "will be felt across the league -- and players and their management won't stand for it."
一名直接了解聯盟業務運作的內部人士表示，如果僅僅因為球隊替球員牽線介紹贊助商，就認定構成規避薪資上限並加以處罰，那將是"荒謬的過度執法"。他表示:"球員經紀人的工作，本來就包括要求球隊幫忙介紹贊助商以及潛在的代言合作對象。"該人士還表示，如果聯盟因為快艇將球員介紹給球隊贊助商而處罰快艇，其影響將"波及整個聯盟，而球員及其經紀團隊不會接受這種做法。"
Introductions between team sponsors and players are common around the NBA, according to owners and other league executives who have spoken to ESPN. They're also something that the league itself has encouraged.
根據曾與ESPN交談的球隊老闆及其他聯盟高層表示，在NBA，球隊替球員與球隊贊助商牽線介紹是相當普遍的做法。而且，這也是聯盟本身一直以來所鼓勵的事情。
In a slide from a 2024-25 deck for teams regarding the "business of
basketball," obtained by ESPN, the league lists "best practices" for
"successful strategies shared by teams from previous seasons."
"Identify what players are talking about or commenting on around the
facility," the first point reads. "For example: if players have noticed a new sponsor on the court or on their jersey but aren't familiar with what the company does, you might consider facilitating a dialogue with an executive from that company to talk about their business and their relationship with the team."
根據ESPN取得的一份NBA在2024-25賽季提供給各球隊、主題為"籃球商業運作"的簡報，其中一張投影片列出了"過去幾個賽季各隊分享的成功策略"，並將其歸納為"最佳實務"。
第一點寫道：
"留意球員在球隊設施內正在談論或評論哪些事情。"
"例如：如果球員注意到球場上或球衣上出現了新的贊助商，但不熟悉這家公司在做什麼，你可以考慮安排球員與該公司的高層進行交流，讓對方介紹公司的業務，以及他們與球隊之間的合作關係。"
Another slide regarding ideas for player initiatives suggests: "Bring in a member of a team partner (either a corporate sponsor or community
organization) to discuss the impact that player appearances have in their organization."
另一張關於球員活動構想的投影片則建議：
"邀請球隊合作夥伴的成員（無論是企業贊助商或社區組織）與球員交流，討論球員出席相關活動能為他們的組織帶來什麼樣的影響。"
The NBA operations manual for 2021-22, when the Clippers and Leonard reached their deals with Aspiration, states that team representatives can't recommend a player to a team sponsor as a candidate for an endorsement arrangement. The team can, however, provide a sponsor with player contact information.
"If teams are approached by business partners or other third parties
regarding a potential business relationship with a player," the rule states, according to a copy of the manual obtained by ESPN, "teams should respond solely by providing the third party with contact information for the player and/or his agent."
在快艇與Leonard分別和Aspiration達成協議的2021-22賽季NBA營運手冊中規定，球隊代表不得向球隊贊助商推薦某位球員作為代言合作的候選人。不過，球隊可以向贊助商提供球員的聯絡資訊。
根據ESPN取得的手冊副本，相關規定寫道：
"如果球隊收到商業合作夥伴或其他第三方詢問，希望與某位球員建立潛在的商業合作關係，球隊應僅向該第三方提供該球員及／或其經紀人的聯絡資訊。"
Ballmer told ESPN in September 2025 that his team "found the email that makes the first introduction."
"The introduction got made and then they were off to the races on, on their own. We weren't involved," he said. "I eventually learned that they had
reached a deal. I have no idea what the deal was."
Ballmer在2025年9月向ESPN表示，他的球隊"找到了當初進行首次牽線的那封電子郵件"。
"我們完成了牽線，之後他們就自己去談了。我們沒有參與其中，"他表示。
"我後來才得知他們已經達成協議。至於那份協議的內容是什麼，我完全不知道。"
The Clippers agreed on June 30 to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft picks. But the deal is on hold after the Raptors learned they would be taking on the risk for any
penalties that Leonard might face -- such as a possible suspension or his contract being voided -- as a result of the investigation.
Leonard and his agent and business attorney, Harrison Gaines, have had
conversations with the players union over the last few weeks, and there has been no indication that he will face a voided contract, according to a source with direct knowledge of the talks.
Leonard and the Raptors are both operating as though the trade will be
completed and reunite him in Toronto, according to team sources.
快艇在6月30日同意將Leonard交易至多倫多暴龍，換回Brandon Ingram、Gradey Dick以及選秀權。不過，在暴龍得知他們也將承擔Leonard因這項調查可能遭受任何處分的風險後，這筆交易目前已暫時擱置。這些處分可能包括遭到禁賽，甚至是合約被判定無效。
據一名直接了解相關談話內容的消息人士透露，過去幾週，Leonard及其經紀人兼商務律師Harrison Gaines一直與球員工會進行溝通，目前沒有任何跡象顯示Leonard的合約將被作廢。
根據球隊消息人士透露，Leonard與暴龍目前都仍按照這筆交易最終會完成的方向行事，並預期Leonard將重返多倫多。
Two sources with direct knowledge of the situation said Leonard has
maintained to the NBPA, league and Wachtell Lipton that he had no involvement in salary cap circumvention, and so far conversations around potential
consequences have centered on him paying restitution for potential improper benefits from the Clippers, such as travel and lodging, for his
representative and uncle Dennis Robertson.
If the case goes to arbitration, the arbitrator could compel document
production, witness testimony and order discovery. After a hearing, the
arbitrator's ruling would be subject to an appeals panel made up of three people jointly appointed by the NBA and NBPA. The appeal panel decision is binding. Only after that process could Silver be authorized to issue any potential punishment.
兩名直接了解情況的消息人士表示，Leonard一直向 NBPA、NBA以及Wachtell Lipton堅稱，自己並未參與任何規避薪資上限的行為。到目前為止，關於可能處分的討論，主要集中在要求Leonard償還可能從快艇獲得的不當利益，例如球隊替他的代表兼舅舅Dennis Robertson支付的交通與住宿費用。
如果此案進入仲裁程序，仲裁員可以要求相關各方提交文件、要求證人作證，並下令進行證據開示。在仲裁聽證結束後，仲裁員的裁決仍可交由一個三人上訴小組審理，該小組成員由NBA與NBPA共同任命。上訴小組所作出的決定具有最終約束力。只有在完成上述程序之後，Adam Silver才可能獲得授權，對相關人士或球隊做出任何可能的處分。
It's unclear how long a potential resolution to the investigation might take, particularly if the matter ends up in arbitration. In July, Silver said he wanted a resolution before the start of the 2026-27 regular season.
Aspiration ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2025. The company's co-founder, Joe Sanberg, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud for his role in a scheme that prosecutors said defrauded investors out of $248 million. In June, he was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
In April, Ballmer's attorney wrote a letter to the judge sentencing Sanberg, in which he said Ballmer was "flagrantly defrauded" by Sanberg and lost his entire $60 million investment in Aspiration. According to the letter, Ballmer also commissioned an internal review of the Clippers organization and
directed team employees and employees of his charitable organization to
cooperate with the NBA investigation.
目前尚不清楚這項調查最終需要多久才能得到解決，尤其如果此案進入仲裁程序，時間可能會進一步拉長。Silver在7月時表示，他希望能在2026-27賽季例行賽開始之前解決此事。
Aspiration最終於2025年聲請破產。該公司共同創辦人Joe Sanberg因參與一項檢方指控詐騙投資人2.48億美元的計畫，對兩項電信詐欺罪認罪。今年6月，他被判處14年聯邦監禁。
今年4月，Ballmer的律師曾致函負責對Sanberg量刑的法官。信中表示，Ballmer遭到Sanberg"公然詐騙"，並損失了他投資於Aspiration的全部6000萬美元。根據該封信函，Ballmer也委託對快艇組織進行內部審查，並指示球隊員工以及其慈善組織的員工，全力配合NBA的調查。
聯盟想罰 但第三方沒找到任何證據 所以現在想用其他名義罰快艇但承受到很大的阻力
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