Around the NBA (and other Sports), 2025-26

[playa-hater]

So, who owns the Clippers future 1st rd picks??? OKC? Wow...

As for Balmer, he is almost richer than all owners combined. Adam Silver forcing a sale?? hard to see it. Can't wait to see how this unfolds.

They won’t do anything to paid out or set to be paid picks, right? It will be what they own other than those. No way you can harm a team that isn’t a part of the scam. That would be crazy.


Also, criminals are so dumb. There are many ways to pay someone under the table and it never comes back to you. I’m positive he’s done it before. Okay it’s 28m, but there are ways. You paid it through one company??? You’re asking to get caught! The government is literally set up for the ultra rich to get away with doing scandalous things and money laundering, this is how you get caught?

Didn't mean to imply that OKC would lose anything. But rather gain even better draft positions If LAC is indeed greatly punished. I still can't believe anything "Major" will happen to Balmer and/or LAC.. Time will tell.

[fallguy]

From a Mannix piece:

“This is a huge deal,” texted an Eastern Conference executive.

Added a Western Conference general manager, “Bad for them. Very bad. The NBA will be pissed about this. If it’s true, the punishment will be worse than what happened in Minnesota with Joe Smith.”

[Fierce1]

All that money to a guy who's always injured.

What a waste!

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Hard to believe that Kawhi and the Clippers were the only player and team to engage in this. Wonder if Wyc was a bit too chummy with the Celtics players?

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[bisme37]

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[The Corey's]

Hard to believe that Kawhi and the Clippers were the only player and team to engage in this. Wonder if Wyc was a bit too chummy with the Celtics players?

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Every one of the Celtics were in their max deals. If wyc was laying them under the table money that wasn't allowed under the cba that's just stupid.

But it doesn't matter. He doesn't own the team anymore so whatever illegalities he may of partook in is of no concern to us now.

[redslastlaugh]

Worst outcome from a Celtics perspective is that NBA voids Kawhi's contract and he signs a one year minimum with the Lakers to remain in Los Angeles for the year. And then he is healthy for the freakin playoffs ... the horror ...

Clippers are done. Going to be hurting for a long time. Last time with Joe Smith and Minnesota the NBA took 5 first round draft picks away from Minny.


The NBA discovered the illegal under-the-table agreement, voided Smith's deals, took away five first-round draft picks from the Timberwolves, and suspended owner Glen Taylor and GM Kevin McHale. The scandal made Smith a free agent, and the Timberwolves' attempt to acquire him for the future failed, costing them dearly in the long run.

[Curmudgeon]

Worst outcome from a Celtics perspective is that NBA voids Kawhi's contract and he signs a one year minimum with the Lakers to remain in Los Angeles for the year. And then he is healthy for the freakin playoffs ... the horror ...

Clippers are done. Going to be hurting for a long time. Last time with Joe Smith and Minnesota the NBA took 5 first round draft picks away from Minny.


The NBA discovered the illegal under-the-table agreement, voided Smith's deals, took away five first-round draft picks from the Timberwolves, and suspended owner Glen Taylor and GM Kevin McHale. The scandal made Smith a free agent, and the Timberwolves' attempt to acquire him for the future failed, costing them dearly in the long run.

It's unlikely that Kawhi will get away with less than a one-year suspension. And why void the contract? If you want to punish Ballmer, make him pay it to a guy who isn't allowed to play.

[Parliament10]

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[redslastlaugh]

Worst outcome from a Celtics perspective is that NBA voids Kawhi's contract and he signs a one year minimum with the Lakers to remain in Los Angeles for the year. And then he is healthy for the freakin playoffs ... the horror ...

Clippers are done. Going to be hurting for a long time. Last time with Joe Smith and Minnesota the NBA took 5 first round draft picks away from Minny.


The NBA discovered the illegal under-the-table agreement, voided Smith's deals, took away five first-round draft picks from the Timberwolves, and suspended owner Glen Taylor and GM Kevin McHale. The scandal made Smith a free agent, and the Timberwolves' attempt to acquire him for the future failed, costing them dearly in the long run.

It's unlikely that Kawhi will get away with less than a one-year suspension. And why void the contract? If you want to punish Ballmer, make him pay it to a guy who isn't allowed to play.

I think if the league rules a contract is an attempt to circumvent the salary cap, the contract is voided. In the Joe Smith salary cap penalty, Smith's contract was voided, T-Wolves ownership/executives were suspended, but I think Joe Smith was not suspended. If memory serves, he signed with a different team.

But I can't recall the specifics and it was several CBAs ago and David Stern had a way different temperment towards discipline than Adam Silver, so not sure what if any thing can be drawn from Stern's precedent.

[Parliament10]

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[jmr07019]

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I missed this last night. I was wondering what made Jalen spit on Dak. Jalen still needs to be smarter, know how valuable he is to his team and stay on the field. He did it right in front of the ref too!

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[Parliament10]

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https://hoopswire.com/g-league-expands-playoffs-2025-26-schedule-nba/

The NBA G League is getting bigger in more ways than one.

For the first time, eight teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs, expanding the postseason field from six per side to eight.

That means more teams, more games and more opportunities for prospects to show what they can do in meaningful minutes.

[Fierce1]

Jokic and Serbia eliminated by Markkanen and Finland.

Just goes to show that basketball is evolving.

Talent alone will not be enough in today's era of basketball.

Style of play and discipline on offense are the trend now.

The Pacers is proof of this.

Constantly moving the ball and not forcing or taking bad shots will be very hard to beat because that will result in higher efficiency.

[threrf23]

I think if the league rules a contract is an attempt to circumvent the salary cap, the contract is voided. In the Joe Smith salary cap penalty, Smith's contract was voided, T-Wolves ownership/executives were suspended, but I think Joe Smith was not suspended. If memory serves, he signed with a different team.

But I can't recall the specifics and it was several CBAs ago and David Stern had a way different temperment towards discipline than Adam Silver, so not sure what if any thing can be drawn from Stern's precedent.

Joe Smith's agreement was made above the table & put in writing.

This situation is suspicious, but as Mark Cuban said, scammers do scammy things, Ballmer's input is not required for Kawhi's deal to make sense.

I doubt there is any hard evidence, so I'm thinking no punishment, just a future anti-Clippers bias.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Regular season reality is a hard lesson for Patriot fans and soon to be for Celtics fans...

[Green89]

Regular season reality is a hard lesson for Patriot fans and soon to be for Celtics fans...

Pats are too weak of a team to survive bad coaching. That blitz call on 3rd and 22 was atrocious. Another Pats season, another suck fest. How do you give up a deep pass there? Stupid, stupid call.

[redslastlaugh]

Except a bad Celts season ends in a top 10 draft pick and a healthy JT returning to start 2026-27 ... a bit of a difference, I'd say

Regular season reality is a hard lesson for Patriot fans and soon to be for Celtics fans...

[jmr07019]

Regular season reality is a hard lesson for Patriot fans and soon to be for Celtics fans...

Pats are too weak of a team to survive bad coaching. That blitz call on 3rd and 22 was atrocious. Another Pats season, another suck fest. How do you give up a deep pass there? Stupid, stupid call.

Punting down 2 scores with 4 minutes left was a terrible call as well

[Fierce1]

Cannot compare the Cs to the Patriots because the Pats only won championships when Brady was a Patriot.

The Cs have won multiple championships in 6 different decades since the 1950s.

The Pats suck now because they've never been known as a dynasty before Tom Brady arrived.