AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

My question is, does the trade still go through?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I don't agree with either of you guys on the LAC/Kawhi situation. Neither does ESPN reporting.

ESPN's update on facts (not emotion) in play:  https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4963...hi-leonard

From what they say, the NBA is apparently heading in the very direction I have been talking about. There is nothing in the rules that prohibits a player from striking a deal with an entity that does biz with either the NBA team or owner.  IN FACT, the NBA encourages it, writes it into the CBA as very legal, and the NBAPA loves it too. They would have a very hard time penalizing either LAC or KL without literally violating federal labor law. Because Pablo "found out!!!" something he could make a big deal about, that isn't really an NBA Big Deal, and doesn't make this a real issue.

The fact that LAC is paying the max to KL avoids the issue of CAP circumvention, because there's no way anyone can say he is being cap-charged a smaller number for his salary. He's literally on the books for the biggest number the NBA allows.

The one exception that makes a possible issue would be if Ballmer paid someone to pay KL, but they report they have found no evidence whatsoever of that, it seems. Show me the money. If a company wants to pay KL and then gets little value, that's on them for being stupid, not on Ballmer, LAC, or KL.

I just don't think there's anything here, I think it's been much ado about nothing, and life will go on. The NBA loves the situation where players get Money For Nothing for being NBA celebrities. The players do too. So there's no one to drive a complaint or real hearing or a penalty. With the ESPN article opting for common sense and focusing on the rules issues (which favor Ballmer and Kawhi, who apparently but unsurprisingly did nothing to actually violate the rules as written, because they incredibly broad), and opting for the facts rather than manufactured outrage or angst, this silliness should die very soon. imo

[Scott41theMavs]

My question is, does the trade still go through?

Should be a “when” question rather than an “if” question.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Adam Silver: “The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,” Adam Silver said. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

Wachtell Lipton, the firm hired by the NBA, found that the Clippers initiated deals with four different companies for Kawhi Leonard: Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. And that the team facilitated endorsement deals for Leonard with each of them.

[Chicagojk]

Wow...I was hoping for something harsh, but never thought they would get to this level.  Good for the NBA.   We will see if Bahlmer takes this though.   

I know there are not a ton of Clippers fans, but a beating that must be.  Although think of the joy they experienced the night getting Leonard and George to where they are now.   What a trainwreck that turned out to be.

[Winter]

"It’s noteworthy that while Leonard was given a hefty fine, he was not suspended. The Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Raptors in late June forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap, and two second-round selections to L.A. in the deal. The Raptors chose not to make the trade official until the investigation was completed. With Leonard available to participate in training camp and play, it’s likely that trade will be announced shortly."

Hoopsrumors

Leonard, through his new agent, Harrison Gaines, issued the following statement via the NBPA:

“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family. I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap. For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”

[KillerLeft]

A bigger punishment than I ever imagined. David Stern would be proud.

[KillerLeft]

It kind of seems like the conclusion was that Kawhi was a bystander, not super in the know on this, and that Uncle Dennis was the main crook...which is actually fairly believable from my POV.

[Moviemavguy]

I wouldn't cheer on Silver just yet. Clipper are for sure gonna fight it and this could end up with only like 2 picks being lost. He gets the big headline like he laid the hammer down, but we shall see if it sticks.

[KillerLeft]

I wouldn't cheer on Silver just yet.  Clipper are for sure gonna fight it and this could end up with only like 2 picks being lost.  He gets the big headline like he laid the hammer down, but we shall see if it sticks.

I could be wrong, but I'd imagine much of this was fairly pre-negotiated. At the very least I'd assume most of the other 29 owners were in favor of this punishment.

[Moviemavguy]

It kind of seems like the conclusion was that Kawhi was a bystander, not super in the know on this, and that Uncle Dennis was the main crook...which is actually fairly believable from my POV.

I think this is more about not punishing Toronto.  

The whole thing still makes the league look pretty bad since the Clippers still got Wagler out of all of this.  IMO they shouldn't have been able to make that trade.  Fishy as hell that the lucked into that pick.

[F Gump]

Did I see this coming? Not at all. Do I think this is definitely the final word? Not at all. (Could I be wrong on that? Sure.)

IIUC, a ruling like this only sticks if it survives arbitration hearing (and any appeal) because it's a CBA-defined process. (Violating the CBA is a line the NBA would not want to cross, no matter what.) The relative harshness of Silver's ruling would seem to indicate it was not an agreed-upon settlement, which means that hearing process is still ahead. Such a hearing would NOT be open to the public.

OTOH there isn't really a scorched-earth option for Ballmer to somehow obliterate the NBA for this finding. His only venue is that arbitration, where the best he can hope for is to reduce or eliminate the penalties imposed. Should be interesting drama ahead.

I'm sure Ballmer will have something to say in response. It should shed a lot of light on where we go from here. EDITED TO ADD - In a statement, the Clippers said “we vehemently reject the NBA’s findings,” adding that, “We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”

I think this is a million miles from final.

[Moviemavguy]

Shams saying there is no official arbitration process to fight this and the league's ruling is final. Clippers will have to do it in court. That makes this a lot less likely that anything changes. Crazy.

[F Gump]

Shams saying there is no official arbitration process to fight this and the league's ruling is final.  Clippers will have to do it in court.  That makes this a lot less likely that anything changes.  Crazy.

I think he's flat wrong. It's explicitly specified in the CBA the last I looked.

EDITED - There is indeed a very detailed and somewhat lengthy section of the CBA that deals with circumvention (or accusations of it).

The bottom line, to get to penalties, is not a declaration by Silver. It indicated arbitration in front of an outside, independent arbitrator is where it starts, that there are appeals, and THEN the Commissioner could act based on the results. These penalties are definitely allowed, but the cart is way out in front of the horse right now, it seems to me. It says:

Section 3. Penalties.
(a) Upon a finding of a violation of Section 1 above by the System Arbitrator, but only following the conclusion of any appeal to the Appeals Panel, the Commissioner shall be authorized to:

[Mavs2021]

It kind of seems like the conclusion was that Kawhi was a bystander, not super in the know on this, and that Uncle Dennis was the main crook...which is actually fairly believable from my POV.

Yeah I´m sure the Unc bagged the whole $30+ million on the side for himself without Kawhi knowing. 

That they did not punish Kawhi is ridiculous, but the reason is obviously the trade. Otherwise they probably give him a year, and as we have seen with doping bans at that age, that´s probably the end of his career.

[KillerLeft]

Yeah I´m sure the Unc bagged the whole $30+ million on the side for himself without Kawhi knowing. 

That they did not punish Kawhi is ridiculous, but the reason is obviously the trade. Otherwise they probably give him a year, and as we have seen with doping bans at that age, that´s probably the end of his career.

Well, in theory Toronto would've been the most aggrieved party back when all this happened, so I guess that's something, but I'm telling you I can envision a world in which Kawhi has always just let Uncle Dennis handle this stuff, not really knowing any better. It doesn't make it right - it's done in his name, after all, but yeah, I actually could be convinced that most of that extra money went right into Uncle Dennis's pocket.

[KillerLeft]

Say what you want about the NBA, but it's almost never boring.

[Moviemavguy]

Wasn't there a report not long ago too that said the Clippers had to AGREE to the punishment? So much fake news and bad reporting lately that it boggles the mind.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I don’t think the player should/would get a big punishment even if he knew or initiated it.

It’s like when your kids ask you for something stupid.

It’s the adults responsibility to say no. The Lakers said no.

[omahen]

I never thought Silver will have the guts to go this harsh. Makes sense why it took so long now. Great for the league