Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green offered an interesting take following the conclusion of the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard over alleged salary-cap circumvention.
Green defended Leonard, saying he believes the Clippers star may not have been aware of any wrongdoing connected to the situation and that the responsibility should fall more heavily on the organization.
"I'm sure Daktronics is a real company. If you got a deal coming in from Daktronics, you're not running to your representation like, 'Yo, how I get this?' You're like, 'Oh, I got a deal with Daktronics.' And I know that's a very reputable company," Green said on his podcast.
"Look, in any arena, they're probably doing the scoreboard. So, you know, I'm taking Kawhi's word for what it is, and I'm happy the team got the bulk of the penalty and not Kawhi," he added.
Kawhi Leonard's statement after the NBA investigation
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard
As the NBA announced, Leonard was issued a $700,000 fine for violating the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.
Following the announcement, Leonard released a statement maintaining that he had no knowledge of cap circumvention and accepting responsibility for the situation.
"Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.
"I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap.
"For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate," Leonard said in his statement.