https://reurl.cc/Ym0dDx 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. 根据三名了解双方近日讨论内容的消息人士透露，NBA并未发现任何证据显示洛杉矶快艇老 板Steve Ballmer曾透过球队赞助商将资金转给Kawhi Leonard，藉此规避薪资上限。 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目前调查的重点，是快艇将Leonard介绍给球队赞助商的行为，是否构成违反 联盟禁止规避薪资上限的相关规定。两名消息人士表示，联盟正在审查快艇是否涉及对员 工"监督不周"的问题，不过目前尚不清楚球队具体违反了哪一项规则，也不清楚可能面临 何种处罚。 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. 这项针对规避薪资上限指控的调查已持续11个月，调查范围也从Leonard与目前已倒闭、同 时也是整起指控核心的绿色金融公司Aspiration之间的合约，扩大至至少另外三家同样与 快艇有合作关系的公司。两名了解相关讨论的消息人士向ESPN透露了上述资讯。不过，消 息人士表示，联盟至今并未提出任何证据，证明Ballmer曾将资金转给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. 据多名了解此事的人士透露，由律师事务所Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz主导的联盟 调查，已於7月下旬向快艇提出初步调查结果。这些人士表示，最近几天，双方一直在协商 如何解决这项调查。相关谈判由代表Ballmer与快艇的O'Melveny & Myers律师事务所律师 David N. Kelley，以及NBA法律总顾问Rick Buchanan主导。一名消息人士形容，双方的谈 判有时相当"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发言人并未回应多次置评请求。 快艇发言人则拒绝回答有关NBA初步调查结果的性质、内容，以及目前双方协商情况的相关 问题。 不过，快艇在提供给ESPN的声明中表示： "球队曾将包括Kawhi Leonard在内的球员介绍给与我们有商业合作关系的公司。替球员与 球队合作夥伴牵线，在NBA球队之间是一种很常见的做法，同时也是球员及其经纪团队经常 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. 声明还表示，球队并未"协商或决定"Leonard代言合约的条款。 声明指出："一名球员与某家公司存在代言合作关系，而该公司同时也与他所属的球队有商 业往来，这项事实本身并不能作为规避薪资上限的证据。" NBA的调查始於2025年9月。当时，Podcast主持人Pablo Torre发布了一篇报导，引用内部 文件指出，Ballmer曾於2021年9月透过自己的LLC向Aspiration投资5000万美元。 同月，快艇也与Aspiration签下一份价值3亿美元的合作协议，使该公司成为Intuit Dome 的"首位创始合作夥伴"。 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. 接着在2022年4月，Aspiration与Leonard签下了一份价值2800万美元的代言合约。一名据 称曾任职於Aspiration、但未具名的员工向Torre表示，Leonard的这份赞助合约"就是为了 规避薪资上限"，而该篇报导则将这份合约形容为一份"挂名领钱、实际无须工作的合约"。 2023年3月9日，Ballmer又向Aspiration额外投资了1000万美元。 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. 据熟悉调查内容的消息人士透露，联盟的调查也检视了与其他公司的合作，包括 Daktronics与Boingo Wireless，後者是Intuit Dome的无线网路服务供应商。本月稍早， Torre报导指出，Leonard曾与Daktronics签有一份先前未公开、据称价值数百万美元的赞 助合约。Daktronics是一家总部位於南达科他州的公司，负责设计快艇主场Intuit Dome内 的巨型萤幕。不过，就像Aspiration的情况一样，目前并没有证据显示Ballmer曾透过这些 公司将资金转给Leonard。消息人士表示，在近期的讨论中，联盟针对这些公司的关注点， 也仅限於快艇是否曾将这些公司介绍给Leonard及其经纪团队。 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的发言人并未回应置评请求。Daktronics的发言人则拒绝评论任何与Leonard或快艇 相关的事情。 在过去11个月里，快艇与Ballmer始终坚称，他们并未参与Leonard与Aspiration之间的合 约，并否认任何违反联盟规则的指控。在Torre的报导刊出隔天，Ballmer向ESPN表示，是 Aspiration主动要求球队将他们介绍给Leonard，而球队则於2021年11月替双方牵线。 Ballmer表示，他"後来才得知双方已经达成协议"，并否认自己曾指示Aspiration与 Leonard签订合约。 "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. "薪资上限规避规则对联盟而言非常重要，我也希望联盟能够进行调查，"Ballmer当时向 ESPN表示。 在相关指控出现後不久，NBA总裁Adam Silver表示，在调查过程中，举证证明确实存在违 规行为的责任在NBA一方。"如果只是存在某种表面上看起来不当的情况，我会对采取行动 有所保留......我认为进行全面调查的目的，就是要查清楚是否真的存在不当行为。" 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. 据多名了解Ballmer想法的消息人士透露，Ballmer在与亲近人士的谈话中一再坚称，他不 会接受任何认定他本人或球队"有意规避薪资上限"的联盟调查结果；如果NBA做出这样的认 定，他将把此事提交仲裁。不过，Kelley与Buchanan之间的协商目前仍在持续，因此尚不 清楚Ballmer或快艇愿意接受NBA何种程度的处罚，也不确定他们最终是否会选择透过仲裁 来挑战联盟的调查结果。 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. 若调查认定存在规避薪资上限的行为，就将构成违反NBA与NBA球员工会之间的劳资协议。 因此，包括快艇与球员工会在内的所有相关方，都必须对调查结果以及任何惩处措施达成 共识。ESPN上个月曾报导，接近NBPA的消息人士表示，如果NBA在缺乏充分证据的情况下仍 试图祭出处罚，球员工会将毫不犹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.) 两名熟悉NBPA立场及仲裁程序的消息人士表示，若主张"将球员介绍给赞助商"本身就构成 规避薪资上限，这样的论点在仲裁中很可能站不住脚。其中一名消息人士表示:"这种说法 一开始就不可能成立。" 据两名了解讨论内容的消息人士透露，在NBA与快艇近期协商的初期阶段，联盟律师曾引用 一宗数十年前的薪资上限规避案件，作为可能惩处的参考范本。2000年，明尼苏达灰狼与 前锋Joe Smith私下签订一份违规的秘密协议，承诺未来提供他一份多年、价值数百万美元 的延长合约。NBA因此对灰狼做出处分，没收球队5个首轮选秀权，并处以350万美元罚款。 (球队2003年与2005年的选秀权後来获得归还。) 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. 这份私下协议所留下的实质证据，使联盟得以做出NBA史上针对球队或球员最严厉的处分之 一。这也导致Joe Smith的合约遭到作废、灰狼老板Glen Taylor被禁赛，以及篮球营运副 总裁Kevin McHale被迫暂时离职。 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." 一名直接了解联盟业务运作的内部人士表示，如果仅仅因为球队替球员牵线介绍赞助商， 就认定构成规避薪资上限并加以处罚，那将是"荒谬的过度执法"。他表示:"球员经纪人的 工作，本来就包括要求球队帮忙介绍赞助商以及潜在的代言合作对象。"该人士还表示，如 果联盟因为快艇将球员介绍给球队赞助商而处罚快艇，其影响将"波及整个联盟，而球员及 其经纪团队不会接受这种做法。" 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. 根据曾与ESPN交谈的球队老板及其他联盟高层表示，在NBA，球队替球员与球队赞助商牵线 介绍是相当普遍的做法。而且，这也是联盟本身一直以来所鼓励的事情。 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." 根据ESPN取得的一份NBA在2024-25赛季提供给各球队、主题为"篮球商业运作"的简报，其 中一张投影片列出了"过去几个赛季各队分享的成功策略"，并将其归纳为"最佳实务"。 第一点写道： "留意球员在球队设施内正在谈论或评论哪些事情。" "例如：如果球员注意到球场上或球衣上出现了新的赞助商，但不熟悉这家公司在做什麽 ，你可以考虑安排球员与该公司的高层进行交流，让对方介绍公司的业务，以及他们与球 队之间的合作关系。" 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." 另一张关於球员活动构想的投影片则建议： "邀请球队合作夥伴的成员（无论是企业赞助商或社区组织）与球员交流，讨论球员出席 相关活动能为他们的组织带来什麽样的影响。" 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." 在快艇与Leonard分别和Aspiration达成协议的2021-22赛季NBA营运手册中规定，球队代表 不得向球队赞助商推荐某位球员作为代言合作的候选人。不过，球队可以向赞助商提供球 员的联络资讯。 根据ESPN取得的手册副本，相关规定写道： "如果球队收到商业合作夥伴或其他第三方询问，希望与某位球员建立潜在的商业合作关 系，球队应仅向该第三方提供该球员及／或其经纪人的联络资讯。" 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，他的球队"找到了当初进行首次牵线的那封电子邮件"。 "我们完成了牵线，之後他们就自己去谈了。我们没有参与其中，"他表示。 "我後来才得知他们已经达成协议。至於那份协议的内容是什麽，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日同意将Leonard交易至多伦多暴龙，换回Brandon Ingram、Gradey Dick以及 选秀权。不过，在暴龙得知他们也将承担Leonard因这项调查可能遭受任何处分的风险後， 这笔交易目前已暂时搁置。这些处分可能包括遭到禁赛，甚至是合约被判定无效。 据一名直接了解相关谈话内容的消息人士透露，过去几周，Leonard及其经纪人兼商务律师 Harrison Gaines一直与球员工会进行沟通，目前没有任何迹象显示Leonard的合约将被作 废。 根据球队消息人士透露，Leonard与暴龙目前都仍按照这笔交易最终会完成的方向行事，并 预期Leonard将重返多伦多。 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. 两名直接了解情况的消息人士表示，Leonard一直向 NBPA、NBA以及Wachtell Lipton坚称 ，自己并未参与任何规避薪资上限的行为。到目前为止，关於可能处分的讨论，主要集中 在要求Leonard偿还可能从快艇获得的不当利益，例如球队替他的代表兼舅舅Dennis Robertson支付的交通与住宿费用。 如果此案进入仲裁程序，仲裁员可以要求相关各方提交文件、要求证人作证，并下令进行 证据开示。在仲裁听证结束後，仲裁员的裁决仍可交由一个三人上诉小组审理，该小组成 员由NBA与NBPA共同任命。上诉小组所作出的决定具有最终约束力。只有在完成上述程序之 後，Adam Silver才可能获得授权，对相关人士或球队做出任何可能的处分。 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. 目前尚不清楚这项调查最终需要多久才能得到解决，尤其如果此案进入仲裁程序，时间可 能会进一步拉长。Silver在7月时表示，他希望能在2026-27赛季例行赛开始之前解决此事 。 Aspiration最终於2025年声请破产。该公司共同创办人Joe Sanberg因参与一项检方指控诈 骗投资人2.48亿美元的计画，对两项电信诈欺罪认罪。今年6月，他被判处14年联邦监禁。 今年4月，Ballmer的律师曾致函负责对Sanberg量刑的法官。信中表示，Ballmer遭到 Sanberg"公然诈骗"，并损失了他投资於Aspiration的全部6000万美元。根据该封信函， Ballmer也委托对快艇组织进行内部审查，并指示球队员工以及其慈善组织的员工，全力配 合NBA的调查。 联盟想罚 但第三方没找到任何证据 所以现在想用其他名义罚快艇但承受到很大的阻力 --

※ 发信站: 批踢踢实业坊(ptt.cc), 来自: 118.165.108.70 (台湾) ※ 文章网址: https://webptt.com/cn.aspx?n=bbs/NBA/M.1786987191.A.BDC.html 我想到一个好的了 ※ 编辑: EZ78 (118.165.108.70 台湾), 08/18/2026 01:38:33