The National Basketball Association is conducting an investigation into Clippers’ recruitment of Kwahi Leonard in 2019.
The news comes in after a report by TMZ Sports on Monday claimed that Johnny Wilkes has filed a suit against Los Angeles Clippers executive board member, Jerry West, alleging he was supposed to be paid $2.5 million for helping push Leonard toward the franchise.
According to the latest report, Wilkes says he first met with West back in April of 2019, letting the Clippers executive know that he had close ties with Kawhi Leonard and his uncle, Dennis Robertson.
Wilkes says they exchanged contact information and a few weeks later, West asked for his help recruiting Leonard to come to LA. Wilkes said he’d only help for a sum of $2.5 million, and Wilkes says West agreed to those terms.
Wilkes also says he played an instrumental role in not only convincing the Clippers to trade for Paul George to reel Kawhi in, but also in how to pitch him in the free-agency meeting.
These allegations were enough for the NBA to look into, but only time will tell what comes of the investigation.
If the allegations are true, it would be a violation of NBA policy, and could see Clippers executive board member Jerry and the team Clippers subjected to a league penalty.
