The LA Clippers are within the midst of a critical investigation from the NBA over their dealing with of the Kawhi Leonard contract negotiations.
The LA Clippers have one way or the other turn into the middle of the most important story of this NBA offseason, after a current exposé claimed that Kawhi Leonard allegedly made $28 million from cap-circumventing measures.
Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer instantly went to the press to deal with the scenario, blaming the corporate Aspiration for duplicitously endorsing Leonard and the Clippers.
Whereas Ballmer has gotten help from fellow proprietor Mark Cuban, the broader NBA world has demanded solutions, with the league workplace even opening an investigation into the Clippers.
Ballmer accepted the investigation from the NBA when chatting with ESPN. However what are the feelings internally throughout the Clippers group on this matter?
Dave McMenamin spoke on NBA Immediately about what he’s listening to from sources throughout the LA Clippers group. The Clippers are properly conscious of the severity of what they’re being investigated over.
Nonetheless, very similar to what Steve Ballmer advised Ramona Shelburne, they’re open to the investigation and cooperating with officers, because the proprietor is livid in regards to the scenario changing into what it has.
“I used to be advised by a Clippers supply, ‘We acknowledge common tampering to be like a dashing ticket; wage cap circumvention is a pink line. That’s a homicide cost,’ the supply advised me.
“There’s a perception throughout the Clippers proper now that they’re welcoming the league’s investigation. They’re glad to have professionals be capable to evaluation paperwork, as Ballmer advised Ramona. They’ve already ready for the DOJ investigation.
“Ballmer advised us that he was damage and offended; he could also be a little bit embarrassed, too, as a result of he did convey this firm deal to the desk. Possibly he didn’t vet them sufficient.”
Whereas the NBA has not set any fastened timeline for a way lengthy this negotiation and subsequent deliberation will take, one must think about they’re treating it with the utmost urgency.
If the Clippers are discovered responsible, Ballmer faces big ramifications, because the NBA will probably come down laborious on each the proprietor and the group to warn different NBA groups to not have interaction in related exercise.
Even when Ballmer didn’t know what was happening, this nonetheless isn’t search for him. Invoice Simmons questioned how Ballmer and the Clippers missed such a flagrant flouting of the foundations.
The Clippers will probably be hoping that the NBA deems them harmless of any wrongdoing, however as issues stand, they’re working with the league to make sure that justice is carried out.
