Kawhi Leonard reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As more details unravel about potential secret endorsement deals, the Los Angeles Clippers look increasingly guilty of circumventing the salary cap. Since the very start of the cap-circumvention accusations, the Clippers have maintained their innocence, but many fans are demanding a harsh punishment in light of recent discoveries.
While a steep penalty is certainly not off the table, the latest intel from insider Michael Grange suggests that both the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard will get off relatively easily. He reports that the investigation has already moved beyond the fact-finding stage, with the only considerations at this point being how to please all sides with the ruling.
“Per league sources, there’s a belief the investigation has already moved beyond its fact-finding stage and the parties involved — specifically the Clippers and the NBPA (which is monitoring the situation to see what, if any, consequences befall Leonard) — are working quietly to get the entire issue resolved, something Silver hinted at back on July 14 when he last spoke publicly on the issue,” reported Sportsnet. “The most likely outcome? A negotiated settlement where the NBA gets to enforce some version of its rules, Ballmer can save face, and Leonard can play for the Raptors.”
Since Adam Silver took over as Commissioner, the league has shown a tendency to take a light-handed approach with enforcing the rules. There have been several exceptions over the years, but the league rarely resorts to taking extreme action against guilty teams or players. This Aspiration scandal is likely heading toward a similar conclusion that will finally allow Leonard to be traded to Toronto.
“From the Raptors’ point of view, the expectation remains that when all is said and done, they will emerge whole, with a seven-time All-NBA selection ready to play and hungry to help them compete in an Eastern Conference that has only gotten better and deeper since the New York Knicks won the NBA title back in June. The commonly cited risk that Leonard will face a lengthy suspension for his role in the alleged cap circumvention is something that almost certainly won’t come to pass.”
The penalties for cap circumvention are extreme on paper, with teams risking potential fines, suspensions, or the loss of multiple draft picks. In this case, however, proving the Clippers’ guilt isn’t easily done, and it puts the NBA in an awkward position.
With mountains of circumstantial evidence and suspicious timelines, they clearly have enough to suspect illegal action. Unfortunately, without clear-cut evidence against the Clippers, there’s only so much they can actually do. If they try to come down too harshly, Steve Ballmer will be ready to challenge with everything he has, which could postpone the process until 2027.
In the end, as bad as it looks for the Clippers, we shouldn’t expect a major punishment from the NBA. With so many factors to consider, they are treading carefully in this process to find a solution that works for everyone. A fine may not be what the critics are calling for, but it might just be the only thing Silver can do to enforce the rules without stepping on any toes.