Because the NBA’s probe into Kawhi Leonard and his connections to Aspiration and the Clippers continues, a brand new layer has emerged.
Leonard’s camp reportedly requested the Raptors for advantages in 2019 that “line up nearly completely” with the Clippers controversy now below investigation, in accordance with Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star.
Arthur reported that Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s uncle and consultant, introduced the Raptors with a laundry listing of requests throughout free company after Leonard delivered Toronto its first NBA championship.
“Based on these sources, who had been granted anonymity with a purpose to communicate freely in regards to the negotiations, Robertson’s listing was lengthy, and absurd,” Arthur mentioned. ” It included a commerce for George, which featured an exorbitant price ticket. It included a slice of possession of the Toronto Maple Leafs, which Robertson was advised was unimaginable.”
However Arthur added that two particular asks stand out when in comparison with the Clippers’ Aspiration deal.
“One, Robertson requested for possession stakes in outdoors firms: not simply the Leafs, which he appeared to consider was separate, however with different firms with whom MLSE had a relationship. And two, the Raptors had been advised they wanted to match no less than $10 million per 12 months in additional sponsorship earnings. Groups are allowed to introduce gamers to crew sponsors; groups can not negotiate offers, and MLSE was conscious of that reality.”
The requests reportedly went past easy endorsements:
“As one supply put it, when advised about all the company sponsors in Toronto who can be comfortable to have Leonard as a pitchman, his camp mentioned, ‘We don’t wish to do something.’ Raptors representatives mentioned any sponsor would wish to shoot adverts or prepare appearances; Robertson reiterated Leonard didn’t wish to do something for the cash.”
That trade, Arthur wrote, was when the Raptors realized Leonard’s crew was asking for “no-show jobs, and prepare no-investment investments. MLSE rejected each proposals.”
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