The NBA’s salary cap rules may rigid, but they are implemented with fairness amongst every front office that must be followed. Loopholes are not intended to occur, and the recent allegations around Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer, and the LA Clippers suggest one was thoroughly found and hidden from sight.
Furthermore, roughly eight days ago, Pablo Torre blasted Leonard and Ballmer for jumping a hurdle over the NBA’s salary cap. The situation is essentially a disaster for LA, which will require considerable effort to prove innocence, as allegations suggest that Ballmer invested $50 million. Leonard was on a no-show deal for $28 million.
Of course, the consequences are to be decided by the NBA. Still, Adam Silver is in a problematic position, nonetheless, in picking how he should make the Clippers pay for their detrimental actions, if Torre’s statements are right on point.
The NBA will have to play the all-or-nothing game with the LA Clippers
Although fans of the LA Clippers want the NBA to come out shortly and say Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard are innocent, or they are guilty but will receive a minimal penalty, the future is a secret only Adam Silver has an idea of.
However, Silver is currently in an improbable position. This is because, in the year 2000, Joe Smith of the Minnesota Timberwolves was in a similar position, and the league took away five first-round picks and set a gigantic fine of $3.5 million.
Additionally, Smith’s contract was voided, and the Timberwolves’ Larry Bird rights were confiscated, preventing them from resigning the six-foot-ten big man.
Moreover, it has been around 25 years since Smith’s incident occurred, but Leonard and Ballmer supposedly did something similar with the tree company, Aspiration.
David Stern, a former NBA commissioner, imposed harsh punishment on Smith and the Timberwolves, which may force Silver to either match the extreme or let the Clippers off the hook with a warning and citation.
There will likely be no in-between, and Silver is also under pressure to complete the investigation and make a decision as soon as possible, as this is not an issue he would typically want to have lingering into the start of the regular season.
At this point, the Clippers are just waiting to see what is decided, hoping that Silver picks the side that favors them, if Ballmer and Leonard are at fault, which is ultimately a non-existent punishment.