Brook Lopez left the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency this summer, signing a two-year, $18 million deal to return to his hometown and play for the Clippers. It's a move that initially looked good for Lopez, with LA boosting its depth by adding veterans like the center, but over the past couple of weeks, the Clippers have been the subject of multiple conversations, all for the wrong reasons.
Pablo Torre alleged on his podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out," that the Clippers used a since-bankrupt environmental firm, Aspiration, to circumvent the salary cap for Kawhi Leonard. It doesn't stop there, either. More findings connecting Los Angeles, Kawhi, and Aspiration have surfaced.
The league is investigating the allegations, an investigation that could take a year. If the findings determine that the Clippers were aware of what was going on, the NBA could fine Los Angeles, take away first-round picks, suspend those involved, and even void Kawhi's contract.
It could get really ugly for the Clippers. If this had all broken at the beginning of the offseason, before free agency, it's worth wondering if Lopez would've signed with Los Angeles. The same goes for Chris Paul and Bradley Beal.
Clippers are dominating offseason headlines for the wrong reasons
Lopez spent the last seven seasons with the Bucks, helping lead the team to a title in 2021. Since then, Milwaukee failed to make it past the second round. In the past three years, the Bucks haven't gone beyond the first round, with two of their three first-round exits coming at the hands of the Pacers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the organization has been a topic of discussion for the past couple of years. It temporarily subsided when Milwaukee traded for Damian Lillard in 2023, but that didn't work out. After the Bucks won only one game in the 2025 playoffs, attention shifted to whether Giannis would potentially request a trade this summer.
Lopez left Milwaukee long before it became clear that Giannis would hang around, at least for the start of the 2025-26 season. He joined the superior of the two conferences, but still, it seemed like Lopez would have a better chance to win another ring, this time with the Clippers.
As mentioned, it could be a long while before the NBA closes its investigation, but a cloud hangs over Los Angeles, one that could doom any chance the team had of making a playoff run. It's unfortunate for players like Lopez, who got wrapped up in a mess that they didn't see coming.