Kawhi Leonard made surprising requests from the Raptors during free agency

Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 Free Agency Demands

Kawhi Leonard reportedly had extensive demands during his free agency negotiations with the Raptors back in 2019. These went beyond what the organization was prepared to provide.

The Toronto Star shared details, stating that Leonard’s uncle and manager, Dennis Robertson, was part of the discussions. He aimed for ownership of the Maple Leafs, which is linked to the Raptors’ parent company, MLSE.

Meanwhile, the NBA is currently looking into accusations that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer might have found a way around salary cap restrictions related to a sponsorship deal with an environmental startup and Leonard’s “no-show” agreement.

According to a podcast detailing findings from journalist Pablo Torre’s thorough investigation, Ballmer denied any allegations of wrongdoing during an interview with ESPN last week.

The Toronto Star report also indicated that Robertson sought a stake in an external company associated with MLSE and pushed for the Raptors to match at least $10 million annually in extra sponsorship revenue.

Interestingly, sources mentioned that Leonard’s camp claimed they “didn’t want anything” regarding sponsorship commitments. This was reiterated by Robertson after the Raptors stated that any deal would require Leonard’s participation in advertising and promotional activities.

Previously, Torre noted that Leonard had a four-year, $28 million deal approval involving the Clippers. After Leonard’s extension in August 2021, Ballmer invested $50 million into it.

Additionally, Joe Samberg, co-founder of the suction company linked to this situation, pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud after deceiving investors and lenders for over $248 million, as disclosed by the Justice Department last month.

Recently, the Boston Sports Journal reported that Leonard had another arrangement involving the suction company, labeled as a “side deal” which added $20 million in shares from Samberg’s personal holdings.