Around the League

Post #2381 » by **Snakebites** » Wed Sep 3, 2025 1:16 pm

The Kawhi thing could be huge.

Who’s still got the Full MLE to spend? Or cap space? Anyone beside Brooklyn?

Among other consequences it’s likely Kawhi’s current contract will be voided.

Post #2382 » by **Cowology** » Wed Sep 3, 2025 9:53 pm

Snakebites wrote:The Kawhi thing could be huge.

Who’s still got the Full MLE to spend? Or cap space? Anyone beside Brooklyn?

Among other consequences it’s likely Kawhi’s current contract will be voided.

This kinda thing doesn't happen super often, but Joe Smith seems like a valid comparison.

Post #2383 » by **Snakebites** » Wed Sep 3, 2025 9:59 pm

Cowology wrote:
Snakebites wrote:The Kawhi thing could be huge.

Who’s still got the Full MLE to spend? Or cap space? Anyone beside Brooklyn?

Among other consequences it’s likely Kawhi’s current contract will be voided.
This kinda thing doesn't happen super often, but Joe Smith seems like a valid comparison.

This seems more egregious than that though.

Joe Smith was a wink wink we promise we'll give you a longer better deal later sort of deal.

Here Balmer is straight up fraudulently using his wealth to give Kawhi more money immediately.

And the consequences for the Smith thing were pretty severe. They (ultimately) lost 3 first round picks.

Post #2384 » by **Cowology** » Thu Sep 4, 2025 3:41 pm

Cuban came to Balmer's defense & basically said "Scammers gonna scam". I'm curious to see how this plays out. The Clips could absolutely be in trouble...but IF not this doesn't look good for Pablo.

bstein14 · Post #2385 » by **bstein14** » Thu Sep 4, 2025 4:23 pm

Cowology wrote:Cuban came to Balmer's defense & basically said "Scammers gonna scam". I'm curious to see how this plays out. The Clips could absolutely be in trouble...but IF not this doesn't look good for Pablo.

Lost some respect for Cuban, who's argument was basically that since Aspiration was going to be investing in the Clippers a sponsor, they wanted the Clippers to be better which is why they were willing to pony up the $28 million for Leonard without having him do anything in return to promote the business.

Seems more like a billion just sticking his neck out there for another billionaire... Lakers and Raptors both went to the league and said hey they are asking for stuff that is illegal so the NBA already knew that Leonard's camp was asking for extra money.

Post #2386 » by **Cowology** » Thu Sep 4, 2025 4:47 pm

bstein14 wrote:
Cowology wrote:Cuban came to Balmer's defense & basically said "Scammers gonna scam". I'm curious to see how this plays out. The Clips could absolutely be in trouble...but IF not this doesn't look good for Pablo.

Lost some respect for Cuban, who's argument was basically that since Aspiration was going to be investing in the Clippers a sponsor, they wanted the Clippers to be better which is why they were willing to pony up the $28 million for Leonard without having him do anything in return to promote the business.

Seems more like a billion just sticking his neck out there for another billionaire... Lakers and Raptors both went to the league and said hey they are asking for stuff that is illegal so the NBA already knew that Leonard's camp was asking for extra money.

Interesting. :uhoh:

Kalamazoo317 · Post #2387 » by **Kalamazoo317** » Fri Sep 5, 2025 1:31 pm

bstein14 wrote:Lost some respect for Cuban

Why did you have respect for Cuban?

Post #2388 » by **Snakebites** » Fri Sep 5, 2025 1:51 pm

Cowology wrote:Cuban came to Balmer's defense & basically said "Scammers gonna scam". I'm curious to see how this plays out. The Clips could absolutely be in trouble...but IF not this doesn't look good for Pablo.

Billionaires gotta stick together. They’ve got a rough life and things are stacked against them. All they have is each other.

Post #2389 » by **Snakebites** » Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:11 pm

Gotta say, the more I read about this, the more I'm hoping the league throws the book at Balmer and the Clippers.

Pharaoh · Post #2390 » by **Pharaoh** » Fri Sep 19, 2025 1:24 am

Snakebites wrote:Gotta say, the more I read about this, the more I'm hoping the league throws the book at Balmer and the Clippers.

Doubt they will.

Lots of circumstantial evidence though

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bstein14 · Post #2391 » by **bstein14** » Fri Sep 19, 2025 2:19 am

Pharaoh wrote:
Snakebites wrote:Gotta say, the more I read about this, the more I'm hoping the league throws the book at Balmer and the Clippers.
Doubt they will.

Lots of circumstantial evidence though

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

Ballmer is so tied to the league and his ownership drove up the valuation for all NBA teams. Plus he's paid massive amounts of luxury tax money to other owners as well in his short time owning the team.

At the same time, its incredibly clear that circumvention happened yet Ballmer can always claim he didn't know and that Aspirations deal was between Leonard and Ballmer had nothing to do with it.

I am pretty sure he'll get a slap on the wrist (money and maybe some 2nd rounders since they don't have firsts) and probably worst thing would be if Leonard got his contract voided. I can't see much more than that for mostly circumstantial evidence. But I also really can't see them doing nothing with so much we already know.

Post #2392 » by **Cowology** » Fri Sep 19, 2025 4:18 am

bstein14 wrote:
Pharaoh wrote:
Snakebites wrote:Gotta say, the more I read about this, the more I'm hoping the league throws the book at Balmer and the Clippers.
Doubt they will.

Lots of circumstantial evidence though

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

Ballmer is so tied to the league and his ownership drove up the valuation for all NBA teams. Plus he's paid massive amounts of luxury tax money to other owners as well in his short time owning the team.

At the same time, its incredibly clear that circumvention happened yet Ballmer can always claim he didn't know and that Aspirations deal was between Leonard and Ballmer had nothing to do with it.

I am pretty sure he'll get a slap on the wrist (money and maybe some 2nd rounders since they don't have firsts) and probably worst thing would be if Leonard got his contract voided. I can't see much more than that for mostly circumstantial evidence. But I also really can't see them doing nothing with so much we already know.

I dunno, I kinda feel like a light-punishment is the least likely outcome. Either you nail Ballmers balls to the wall or you say there wasn't enough evidence. If you acknowledge he circumvented the cap but don't punish him adequately you are opening the flood gates for 29 other teams. Silver/Stern and the NBA may be into all sortsa nasty backroom stuff, but they do not want it aired publicly and I gotta believe they will move to protect their image. If that means eating one of their own, well, that's fair game too. *shrug*

MortSahlfan · Post #2393 » by **MortSahlfan** » Wed Sep 24, 2025 2:19 am

I can't see Westbrook going to the Rockets and playing with Durant, but I'm guessing its KD's choice.

Post #2394 » by **Snakebites** » Wed Sep 24, 2025 3:06 am

MortSahlfan wrote:I can't see Westbrook going to the Rockets and playing with Durant, but I'm guessing its KD's choice.

We already have seen KD/Harden and Harden/Westbrook (twice).

None were all that successful.

KD/Westbrook for obvious reasons is the one post OKC combo I never thought we’d see, but hey, it’s been nearly a decade. Maybe they’re over it.

At this point them reuniting would have narrative value more than basketball value. Westbrook isn’t a very good player anymore.

MortSahlfan · Post #2395 » by **MortSahlfan** » Thu Oct 2, 2025 3:56 pm

Knicks-Sixers play their 1st pre-season game at noon today (5 minutes from now)

MortSahlfan · Post #2396 » by **MortSahlfan** » Wed Oct 8, 2025 9:03 pm

LeBron James: I did watch Germany — shout out to Dennis Schröder, obviously leading that squad. He’s a good friend of mine. And he was MVP of the whole thing." Steve Nash: "Let me stop you on Schröder — he’s a Hall of Famer. Think about it. MVP of the World Championship, MVP of the Euros, finalist or semi-finalist in the Olympics... If that’s not a FIBA Hall of Famer, then what is? That’s pro résumé material. What do you think?" LeBron James: "Yeah, I mean, I saw a lot of the stats and accomplishments after EuroBasket this summer. If it happens, I wouldn’t be like, 'Oh my God, I’m so surprised.' No — he’s put in the work, man. Because it’s the totality that matters. People get into Hall of Fames off of college careers — high school careers, even. So international excellence should be part of the puzzle. I mean, it’s impressive. Not that Dennis hasn’t been a terrific NBA player — but he hasn’t been an All-Star. You can see him playing at an All-Star level on certain nights, for sure. But what he’s done in the international game? That’s a big part of basketball history. The international game is a big part of our game. A lot of guys have come over here and made an impact, and a lot of our guys go overseas too. It’s all part of the total picture — the history of the game."

Post #2397 » by **Cowology** » Tue Oct 14, 2025 2:42 am

How come things like Bronny or the Antetokounmpo brothers aren't viewed as Cap circumvention? Teams are essentially paying players via surrogate and offering other illicit incentives in order to placate these guys and keep them on the roster.

I get it's difficult to prove, but I'd think it would at least draw some sort of attention. The nepotism makes sense from the player perspective, but somehow it feels like it violates the spirit of the rules.

Post #2398 » by **Snakebites** » Wed Oct 15, 2025 4:58 pm

Cowology wrote:How come things like Bronny or the Antetokounmpo brothers aren't viewed as Cap circumvention? Teams are essentially paying players via surrogate and offering other illicit incentives in order to placate these guys and keep them on the roster.

I get it's difficult to prove, but I'd think it would at least draw some sort of attention. The nepotism makes sense from the player perspective, but somehow it feels like it violates the spirit of the rules.

Yeah, I get that its BS. Bronny is particularly egregious given the guaranteed money he got for four years as a late second rounder (who shouldn't have even been that).

But the bolded IS the answer to the question.

Crymson · Post #2399 » by **Crymson** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 5:02 am

Cowology wrote:How come things like Bronny or the Antetokounmpo brothers aren't viewed as Cap circumvention? Teams are essentially paying players via surrogate and offering other illicit incentives in order to placate these guys and keep them on the roster.

I get it's difficult to prove, but I'd think it would at least draw some sort of attention. The nepotism makes sense from the player perspective, but somehow it feels like it violates the spirit of the rules.

Teams are free to sign whomever they please at whatever salary they please so long as they're in compliance with the CBA. The league doesn't care, and nor should it.

Post #2400 » by **Cowology** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 12:03 pm

Crymson wrote:
Cowology wrote:How come things like Bronny or the Antetokounmpo brothers aren't viewed as Cap circumvention? Teams are essentially paying players via surrogate and offering other illicit incentives in order to placate these guys and keep them on the roster.

I get it's difficult to prove, but I'd think it would at least draw some sort of attention. The nepotism makes sense from the player perspective, but somehow it feels like it violates the spirit of the rules.

Teams are free to sign whomever they please at whatever salary they please so long as they're in compliance with the CBA. The should it.

Yeah, but whether or not it's actually compliant is kinda the point.