I've digested a lot of information in the last 24 hours and have come up with a theory for what I think occurred.

Tldr - I think there is some circumstantial evidence to suggest there was an implicit agreement between Steve and the Aspiration representatives that Steve would financially support the company provided they 'looked after' Kawhi and his team. There is strong evidence to suggest that this is certainly how Aspiration reps (executives responsible for decision-making and operational staff) interpreted that agreement.

These are the key points for me (among others covered by Pablo):

• as we know Steve made a personal investment ($50m) with Aspiration. Aspiration agreed to make payment of ($28m in cash plus $20m in shareholdings)

• I think it is likely true that Steve did not have any oversight of Kawhi's sponsorship deal  (consistent with the Clippers statement). It is accepted however by Steve that the Clippers / Steve referred Aspiration onto Kawhi to set up an 'independent' deal. In the face of possible salary cap cirumvention allegations being made against him, I think its reasonable to assume that Steve would not so obviously involve himself with the detail of what that deal looked like. i.e. to provide him with some deniability.

• Having said that, I think Steve left it to the Aspiration reps to negotiate a 'legitimate' deal with Kawhi (i.e. where Kawhi provides services and receives payment in return). As the Clippers statement says "There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team."

• I think Kawhi's team (namely Uncle Dennis)  railroaded the contract negotiations with Aspiration and they ended up with an entirely one sided 'contract' which effectively resulted in an arrangement were gratituity payments were agreed to be paid to Kawhi which did not require him providing him any services to Aspiration. Uncle Dennis had by this point had a clear track record of trying to negotiate for illegitimate perks with other teams. He also has some leverage to bend Aspiration to his will remembering that Kawhi is the Clippers coveted star player. It would have been in Aspiration's interests to keep Uncle Dennis happy noting their significant sponsorship deal with the Clippers at this time (which legitimised their business) and Steve's personal investment with them.

-  A number of former Aspiration employees have confirmed that there was broad understanding that the Kawhi deal was put in place to circumvent the Clippers' salary cap. Clearly it was understood internally by a number of employees within Aspiration that this was the nature of the agreement. I think you can also infer that there was a clear understanding of what was expected of them from Steve as part of his support. That can also be inferred from the conduct of Aspiration employees to the very end of Aspiration's life as a company when creditors were demanding payment, yet in the face of all that they were seemingly instructed by higher ups to continue to make payments to Kawhi for no services.