<\/p>\n
Danilo Gallinari believes Kawhi Leonard got off far too lightly for his involvement in the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 salary cap scandal.<\/p>\n
Leonard was fined $700,000 by the NBA following its investigation into the Clippers\u2019 dealings with Aspiration, but Gallinari believes his former replacement in Los Angeles should be paying considerably more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my opinion, since he changed the trajectory of my career \u2014 he got me in trouble by sending me away from Los Angeles \u2014 he deserves to pay all $50 million of that money he took. He has to pay it all,\u201d Gallinari said<\/a> during an episode of the \u201cA Cresta Alta\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n Gallinari, who also suggested Leonard should donate the money to charity, has a personal connection to how the Clippers built around their new superstar in 2019.<\/p>\n The same day Leonard signed with Los Angeles, Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Paul George to the Clippers.<\/p>\n While the move ultimately worked out well for both players, Gallinari said his frustration came from having the direction of his career changed by another player rather than a front office.<\/p>\n \u201cMy NBA journey didn\u2019t depend on a GM, an owner \u2026 but it was taken by a player,\u201d Gallinari said. \u201cA player who decided that the team wasn\u2019t good enough, that he wanted something else.\u201d<\/p>\n The $50 million figure referenced by Gallinari relates to money Clippers owner Steve Ballmer reportedly invested into Aspiration, the company that allegedly paid Leonard at least $28 million through \u201cno-show jobs\u201d designed to circumvent the salary cap, according to Yahoo Sports.<\/p>\n The allegations were initially uncovered by the \u201cPablo Torre Finds Out\u201d podcast and eventually triggered an NBA investigation.<\/p>\n That investigation resulted in Ballmer receiving a $30 million fine and a one-year suspension from team activities. Leonard was fined $700,000 but avoided a suspension.<\/p>\n The Clippers have since moved on from Leonard, completing a trade that sent him back to the Toronto Raptors on Monday after the deal had been held up by the investigation.<\/p>\n Leonard is now cleared to begin the 2026-27 season with Toronto, but Gallinari clearly believes the NBA should have hit him with a much bigger bill.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Jaylen Brown Reveals What He Wants His Legacy to Be<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n