The Los Angeles Clippers face severe NBA investigation over their dealing with of Kawhi Leonard’s contract negotiation.
The state of affairs started after investigative journalist Pablo Torre revealed alleged wage cap violations involving the franchise.
Torre claimed the Clippers and proprietor Steve Ballmer used an organization referred to as Aspiration to pay Leonard $28 million for a ‘no present job’ above the wage cap.
The investigation may lead to penalties together with fines and potential contract termination for the previous Finals MVP.
NBA insider Tim MacMahon argued the Clippers shouldn’t be blamed for his or her preliminary pursuit of Kawhi Leonard, who had simply gained Finals MVP after they acquired him.
Nonetheless, the expectations by no means translated into championship success.
The Leonard signing, together with Paul George’s addition, did not ship titles and left the franchise with out flexibility.
“The Clippers offered their soul to open up a championship window. And hey, don’t blame them in any respect for doing that, for bringing within the reigning finals MVP and a man in Paul George who was a primary group All NBA participant on the time,” MacMahon defined.
“Clearly, the value was steep. Ended up being steeper than anyone may think about, however they nonetheless haven’t paid off that bank card invoice. You’re speaking about pivoting from Kawhi Leonard. You’re not achieved paying, proper?”
The franchise’s aggressive strikes proceed haunting their future flexibility. MacMahon highlighted how a number of trades compound their asset depletion whereas Leonard stays injury-prone.
“And also you’re not achieved paying for the James Harden commerce both, which is once more attempting to capitalize on having Kawhi as a part-time famous person, who performs 42% of the video games, as a man who’s completed solely two of six postseasons since he’s been in Clippers uniform,” MacMahon continued.
The Clippers lack first-round draft capital via 2029, both through outright trades or swaps.
Their picks in 2026 and 2027 belong to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder as a result of Paul George acquisition, possible leading to low alternatives.
Extra picks in 2028 and 2029 go to Philadelphia through James Harden commerce, which may additionally yield minimal worth if Joel Embiid returns to elite kind.
Leonard’s Clippers tenure has been outlined by accidents moderately than success, with their deepest playoff run reaching the Western Convention Finals in 2021.
“We’ll see what occurs on the conclusion of this NBA investigation, however you’re speaking about pivoting if you’re nonetheless digging out of ache,” MacMahon concluded.
