Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers maintained their innocence throughout the Kawhi Leonard scandal, even after the investigation concluded. The organization said it would "vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us," but given the overwhelming evidence, it would be in its best interest to accept the reality it created.
No, not just because that would let the organization move on, but because it could result in the Clippers getting back some of the draft assets that they were docked as a penalty. They will no longer have their 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 picks, but what if they could regain access to them?
As ESPN's Brian Windhorst outlined, after Glen Taylor, the Timberwolves' owner in 2000, accepted Minnesota's fate after the league found it guilty of entering into an under-the-table agreement with Joe Smith, David Stern returned one of the five first-round picks the league had taken away as punishment.
The following year, Stern gave Minnesota another one of the first-round picks it lost, saying:
"In light of the other penalties that have been imposed on the Timberwolves, and the team's conduct since the Smith matter concluded, we feel it is appropriate."
Clippers need to take a page out of the Timberwolves' book
There's no guarantee the league will give Los Angeles back one of the picks it lost if Ballmer says he accepts the Clippers' fate, but it's worth a shot. If LA were being unfairly framed, that'd be a whole different thing, but again, that's not the case.
Ballmer has already set the organization back, and he owes it to the fans to try to right his wrongs. He's facing a year-long suspension, so while he can't be involved with the team, he can apologize instead of turning this into an even bigger mess.
And maybe, if the Clippers can keep their hands clean, the league will throw a first-round pick back their way. Los Angeles should do that anyway, given the scrutiny it will be under, but hey, why not be incentivized to do so?
Adam Silver may not treat the Clippers the way that Stern did with the Timberwolves over two decades ago when it comes to returning picks. Ballmer has nothing else to go on, though, so instead of trying to fix his image, he needs to focus on fans and players; in turn, the organization might get at least one pick back. That'd be worth it.
Regardless of whether the league will slightly reduce the penalties the Clippers are facing, Ballmer doesn't need to use his resources (his $30 million fine isn't all that much to him) to make this even uglier.
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