Kawhi "no-show job" that paid $28M

[TheGeneral99]

The crazy thing it was only discovered because the company involved went Bankrupt in 2023 and are under lawsuits for fraud so this information became public.

If this company didn't go bankrupt nobody would ever know.

[anj]

I started to listen to the Pablo podcast on the Knicks board but it's 1:40 long so I only heard the intro and background. An hour plus is a long time to commit They laughed about how the two founders of Aspire are prominent Democrats and Harvard grads. But I didn't go far enough to know, is the whole Aspire company a fraud and a scam? Or just the idea that Ballmer circumvented NBA rules to pay Kawhi more money?

Aspiration's co-founder is a fraudster: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/aspiration-partners-co-founder-charged-and-agrees-plead-guilty-248m-scheme-defraud-investors
The company declared bankruptcy: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkauflin/2025/04/01/climate-tech-startup-with-celebrity-and-billionaire-backers-files-for-bankruptcy/

Ironically, our global ambassador, Drake, was an investor.

[anj]

Nice breakdown by Sam Quinn at CBS: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-contract-nba-clippers-steve-ballmer-uncle-dennis-no-show-job/

As detailed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the commissioner is authorized to issue the following penalties for cap circumvention:

* A fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
* A fine of up to $5.5 million for the second and any subsequent offenses.
* The forfeiture of one first-round draft pick.
* Contracts or transactions that violated league rules can be voided.

Therefore, at least based on the CBA as it is written, the Clippers would not be subject to the same multi-year penalty that crippled the Timberwolves 25 years ago unless they committed multiple violations.

[OakleyDokely]

Fining Ballmer 4.5M would be like me getting a $45.00 parking ticket.

If that's all that happens, circumventing the cap is basically worthwhile for billionaire owners.

[Zeno]

Nice breakdown by Sam Quinn at CBS: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-contract-nba-clippers-steve-ballmer-uncle-dennis-no-show-job/

As detailed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the commissioner is authorized to issue the following penalties for cap circumvention:

* A fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
* A fine of up to $5.5 million for the second and any subsequent offenses.
* The forfeiture of one first-round draft pick.
* Contracts or transactions that violated league rules can be voided.

Therefore, at least based on the CBA as it is written, the Clippers would not be subject to the same multi-year penalty that crippled the Timberwolves 25 years ago unless they committed multiple violations.

It is multiple violations though if report is accurate because there were shady transactions that match up with dates when extensions were signed and a clause in the endorsement deal that voids the deal if he is not a Clipper. So I see a minimum of three separate violations and likely more than that.

[tdotrep2]

we better be getting **** picks. from the tampering to this? lol

[LoveMyRaps]

Fining Ballmer 4.5M would be like me getting a $45.00 parking ticket.

If that's all that happens, circumventing the cap is basically worthwhile for billionaire owners.

Exactly. This is just a slap on the wrist and more teams should just start doing it.

[OakleyDokely]

[tecumseh18]

At the very least, the league should add the 28 mill to the Clipper's official payroll for the duration of Kawhi four year contract, so 7 mill annually, and require the team to pay extra luxury tax on that basis.

[ConSarnit]

Fining Ballmer 4.5M would be like me getting a $45.00 parking ticket.

If that's all that happens, circumventing the cap is basically worthwhile for billionaire owners.

Exactly.

The risk/reward is way too much in favor or trying to circumvent the cap if these are the penalties.

Basically to sign a star and pay him under the table it costs you a 1st and $4.5m. It’s basically the equivalent of trading an 1st and $4.5m in cash for said star. Every team in the league should be doing this if that’s the penalty. The upside is far greater. The voiding of the contract doesn’t mean anything because if you weren’t willing to pay someone like Kawhi under the table you never would have been able to sign him in the first place.

If these are the maximum penalties for cap circumvention I’ll be mad at MLSE if we aren’t paying someone under the table. We’d be stupid not to.

[billy_hoyle]

Can we get their 2027 pick (already swapped with OKC).

Likely a crappy pick but better than nothing

Or, do we ask for the 2031 1st. Which seems like a nice trade chip.

[LiSTWithLani]

I'm pissed, the league needs to take substantial action!

Kawhi wanted to go home but he was never gonna walk away from almost $90M guaranteed unless something else was making up the difference. The Raptors’ 5-year max was our best bargaining chip, and if he left that on the table, it’s pretty clear there were going to be other incentives in play

Raptors 5 years $190 million
Clippers 4 years $141 million (but 4th year player option he opted out of)

Biggest thing here was also the % raises that he could have gotten were higher with bird rights. If you look at the 7 year value of the contract.

When considering his next contract being based off his previous, he likely left $27-$28ish million on the table by going to the Clippers.

Raptors Max $190 over 5 + a later max on the next deal (Total would have been about $306 million over 7 years)

$33 $36 $39 $42 $47 $52 $57 = 7 years $306

Clippers Max $103 for the first three years and then $176 for the next 4 years (total about $279 over 7 years)

The fact that over seven years, signing with the Clippers instead of the Raptors ended up costing Leonard $27-$28 million and that's exactly the amount that Leonard got on this side deal is pretty damning.

This is indeed very damning, thanks for laying that out for us.

[OakleyDokely]

I'm surprised OG didn't take us up on the offer of a 5/200 deal and a 25m stake in Art Scarves Ltd.

[ForeverTFC]

Nice breakdown by Sam Quinn at CBS: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-contract-nba-clippers-steve-ballmer-uncle-dennis-no-show-job/

As detailed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the commissioner is authorized to issue the following penalties for cap circumvention:

* A fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
* A fine of up to $5.5 million for the second and any subsequent offenses.
* The forfeiture of one first-round draft pick.
* Contracts or transactions that violated league rules can be voided.

Therefore, at least based on the CBA as it is written, the Clippers would not be subject to the same multi-year penalty that crippled the Timberwolves 25 years ago unless they committed multiple violations.

So the heaviest price is paid by the player.

I hate the conspiracy theories as much as the next guy, but given how insignificant these penalties are to the team engaging in cap circumvention, it tells me the owners collectively have blessed it as a practice. A good owner should circumvent that cap if all it costs them is a $4.5m fine and at most the loss of a first round pick.

[LoveMyRaps]

Brunson signing looks extremely sus now.

Read on Twitter

[TheGeneral99]

I'm pissed, the league needs to take substantial action!

Kawhi wanted to go home but he was never gonna walk away from almost $90M guaranteed unless something else was making up the difference. The Raptors’ 5-year max was our best bargaining chip, and if he left that on the table, it’s pretty clear there were going to be other incentives in play

Raptors 5 years $190 million
Clippers 4 years $141 million (but 4th year player option he opted out of)

Biggest thing here was also the % raises that he could have gotten were higher with bird rights. If you look at the 7 year value of the contract.

When considering his next contract being based off his previous, he likely left $27-$28ish million on the table by going to the Clippers.

Raptors Max $190 over 5 + a later max on the next deal (Total would have been about $306 million over 7 years)

$33 $36 $39 $42 $47 $52 $57 = 7 years $306

Clippers Max $103 for the first three years and then $176 for the next 4 years (total about $279 over 7 years)

The fact that over seven years, signing with the Clippers instead of the Raptors ended up costing Leonard $27-$28 million and that's exactly the amount that Leonard got on this side deal is pretty damning.

This is indeed very damning, thanks for laying that out for us.

The thing is I get Kawhi didn't want to stay here long-term, but he is one of the biggest idiots ever not re-upping for a 1+1 with us and play 1-2 more seasons potentially.

[Parataxis]

Nice breakdown by Sam Quinn at CBS: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-contract-nba-clippers-steve-ballmer-uncle-dennis-no-show-job/

As detailed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the commissioner is authorized to issue the following penalties for cap circumvention:

* A fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense.
* A fine of up to $5.5 million for the second and any subsequent offenses.
* The forfeiture of one first-round draft pick.
* Contracts or transactions that violated league rules can be voided.

Therefore, at least based on the CBA as it is written, the Clippers would not be subject to the same multi-year penalty that crippled the Timberwolves 25 years ago unless they committed multiple violations.

So the heaviest price is paid by the player.

I hate the conspiracy theories as much as the next guy, but given how insignificant these penalties are to the team engaging in cap circumvention, it tells me the owners collectively have blessed it as a practice. A good owner should circumvent that cap if all it costs them is a $4.5m fine and at most the loss of a first round pick.

Is it even that heavy of a price for hte player, if there's nothing there preventing him from simply resigning another contract?

[TheGeneral99]

Karma for Uncle Dennis, lol.

[OakleyDokely]

Josh Lewenberg from an article in 2019:

"In some cases, they were asking for things that Ujiri - one of the most well-compensated executives in the league - wouldn't even had at his disposal. Their requests were "unreasonable", a source said, which made the Raptors wonder whether Leonard was seriously considering them at all"


Raptors and probably the Lakers weren't willing to do this, Ballmer was fine with it, though.

[Mikistan]

It's not like he has to give back all the money in any case so, he still comes out ahead