NBA commissioner Adam Silver made it clear Wednesday that the league will carry the burden of proof in its investigation of the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer.
At issue is whether Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million “no-show” job with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration amounted to an effort to circumvent the salary cap.
“The burden is on the league if we’re going to discipline a team, an owner, a player or any constituent members of the league,” Silver told reporters after the NBA’s Board of Governors meeting. “I think as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges.”
The NBA has hired New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz — the same firm used in the Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver investigations — to handle the review. Sources told ESPN the probe will be “thorough” and without a firm deadline.
Silver added that owners are reserving judgment until the league office finishes its work.
“That’s what you have a commissioner for,” he said. “On one hand, of course, I work collectively for the 30 governors, but I have an independent obligation to be the steward of the brand and the integrity of this league.”
Silver touched on a few other topics at his annual preseason press conference:
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All-Star format: Confirmed the new USA vs. World round-robin setup, saying he hopes the format re-establishes the game’s importance. “All-Star is a big deal,” he said.
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European league: Denied that plans for a potential NBA-run European league would replace expansion in Seattle or Las Vegas. “Completely different entities,” Silver insisted. Expansion is “still being actively looked at.”
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Beasley investigation: Declined to say if Malik Beasley will be limited while the NBA looks into his role in a gambling scandal. Silver noted a federal probe is also ongoing.
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