Adam Silver: 'No Reason to Believe' Clippers Violated Rules in Kawhi Recruitment

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is giving the Los Angeles Clippers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the league's most recent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kawhi Leonard's arrival.

Silver said Monday on ESPN's First Take that he has "no reason to believe, based on what's alleged so far, that there's anything inappropriate that took place."

TMZ Sports reported Dec. 14 that Johnny Wilkes had filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against Clippers executive Jerry West, claiming he was supposed to be paid for helping steer Leonard to the franchise during the 2019 offseason.

Wilkes said in the suit he helped West get in contact with Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson. He also allegedly provided a "specific game plan" to West regarding the Clippers' free-agent pitch to the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

West issued a response to TMZ Sports: "I am not aware of any lawsuit being filed against me and I deny engaging in any improper conduct in connection with the signing of Kawhi Leonard."

The Athletic's Sam Amick reported the NBA had opened an investigation in the wake of the TMZ Sports story.

The Clippers said they were "fully cooperating" with the league and that Wilkes' lawsuit "is replete with inaccuracies."

Amick first reported in December 2019 the NBA had investigated the Clippers after receiving complaints about Robertson requesting "improper benefits" during the free-agency process:

"Sources say the league was told that Robertson asked team officials for part ownership of the team, a private plane that would be available at all times, a house and  — last but certainly not least — a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that they could expect if Leonard played for their team. All of those items, to be clear, would fall well outside the confines of the league’s collective bargaining agreement."

According to Amick, sources said Robertson made the demands to representatives of the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors, leading some to wonder how the Clippers responded to the situation.

The NBA didn't find anything that implicated the Clippers.

Leonard signed a three-year, $103.1 million contract with the team. However, he told reporters Monday his "best decision" is probably declining his player option in the third year, which would allow him to become a free agent again in 2021.