ATL - Livingston Signs 2-Way with Cavs

[paulpressey25]

Pablo’s sources now going on record. And Mark Cuban keeps insisting Clippers got ‘duped’.

But to believe Cuban you have to believe that:

-the CEO felt it critical to pay Kawhi a crazy ass sum that was 20x what the other endorsers were paid

-the CEO felt it best to tell NO ONE that he signed Kawhi to the massive deal, even though supposedly he felt Kawhi would be a key promoter for them, hence why he need to give him that big deal

-at a key moment of cash flow distress, after Kawhi didn’t get his quarterly check, Ballmer’s partner with the Clips happens to invest $1,999,999.99 and Ballmer himself puts in another $10 million.

[emunney]

Even if this is actually the case (which I'm very suspicious about vs Simmons carrying water for Ballmer) the 2nd apron dynamics are going to supercharge the problem.

Read on Twitter

Really doesn't matter what half the league does or doesn't do if they don't slam their nuts in the car door like the Clips have done here.

[emunney]

Was Simmons carrying our water on the Bogdan fiasco? Because everybody was negotiating before they were allowed to then, yet only we got nailed due to the obviousness of the infraction. The issue for the league is the overwhelming appearance of impropriety. They're not going to prosecute half the league based on Bill Simmons innuendo. Be a real reporter and follow up if you've got the goods, Sports Guy.

[raferfenix]

The Raptors angle of this is the most wild to me.

Basically, this story is a test of both people’s intelligence, and of the NBA itself. As the Star reported this week, Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson asked the Toronto Raptors for the same set of perks in 2019 that Leonard was receiving from the Clippers in 2021: lucrative no-show sponsorships, and ownership stakes in outside companies. Robertson, who had not done his research, presumed the Toronto Maple Leafs were an outside company, and asked for a piece.

So Leonard asked that of the Raptors, looks like he got it from the Clippers and, because the vehicle was a company that was more or less a cardboard box painted green and left in the rain, the whole thing went belly-up and just enough of the arrangement was exposed. This is smoke, and fire.

And all that said, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke on the subject Wednesday following a board of governors meeting in New York, and he left the door open to closing the door on this. Yes, he said the commissioner’s powers are “very broad: full range of financial penalties, draft picks, suspensions, et cetera. Very broad powers in these situations.” And Silver said, correctly, “I have an obligation to be the steward of the brand and the integrity of the league.”

But Silver also did something very specific: He emphasized that the burden of proof is on the league, and said, “I would be reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety. I think the goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety, because also in a public facing sport, again, the public, at times, reaches conclusions that later to turn out to be completely false.”

It felt like a signal that absent actual proof, the Clippers could theoretically escape serious punishment. The 2019 investigation into Leonard and the Clippers couldn’t find proof of wrongdoing, so it’s easy to imagine this was all executed with a handshake deal between an owner and a player, and financial transactions which took place outside of team communications channels with no written statement of intent.

With a little work, Silver should arrive at major penalties here: a Ballmer suspension, the forfeiture of draft picks, any fine he can finagle, perhaps the voiding of Leonard’s current contract, and maybe moving the all-star game. Staples Center, after all, is just across town, and nobody would have to change their hotel room.

But while this may obviously be the worst case of cap circumvention in league history, it’s at least possible that may not be enough. Silver at least seems reluctant to use the full power of his office and the leeway of the CBA based on an IQ test. And you could understand, really. Ballmer is a titan in the league, the richest owner there is, so while he may be short of explanations, he’s not short of that. It’s only the integrity of the league, after all.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/nba/new-bombshell-report-in-kawhi-leonard-scandal-should-move-nba-to-impose-major-penalties/article_4feaecdd-7dbf-4337-a59b-f79b01784f03.html

[JayMKE]

Anything less than Ballmer being banned for life and being pushed if not forced to sell, Uncle Dennis banned for life, and Kawhi contract voided and suspended for a year is a bit of a joke I think. Ballmer should be worried about real legal jeopardy not keeping his play thing, billionaires are buffoons like everyone else probably more so and Ballmer screams buffoon in all his interactions.

[SupremeHustle]

I wonder if Uncle Dennis has made enough to buy the Clippers from Ballmer.

[Matches Malone]

Read on Twitter

[GoldenAntlers]

Read on Twitter

Hawks got a plan.

[drew881]

Hear me out on this one...

If the KL stuff goes unpunished, we pay Giannis in Aston Villa equity and maybe a Deer District hotel deal. Somehow sneak him into the ownership group of the Bucks that starts as soon as he retires.

But wouldn't every team just offer him the same types of circumvention deals? Arison could slide him 100 million to put his face on a Carnival Cruise Ship or something.

Here's what AI gave me:

[Plossum]

Watch on YouTube

[Perishable517]

If LAC isn't basically death penaltied then this is the beginning of the end of the NBA as a competitive major sports league. IMO, this is far more worthy of compelling an owner to sell than Donald Sterling's abhorrent behavior.

As for Kawhi, to me this is just as bad as a player gambling on themselves and intentionally throwing games. Lifetime ban. Disgraced status.

I don't even think this is an outrageous idea. If circumventing the cap is a cardinal sin, then Silver has to come down in the strongest possible way. Make it so harsh that it's not attempted again.

Set precedent.

Sent from my CPH2417 using RealGM mobile app

[KidA24]

It started and was ignored at least going back to AK 47 and Prokorov.

[MickeyDavis]

Ok

Read on Twitter

[FlagsFlyForever]

It started and was ignored at least going back to AK 47 and Prokorov.

It wasn't ignored. It was investigated and there was no evidence.

[emunney]

Ok

Read on Twitter

[BroncoBuck]

Pablo is running circles around the NBA, Clippers, and Mark Cuban at this point.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=qWAi_ND7CpvsUD7IDBQQzw[/x]

[Baddy Chuck]

It started and was ignored at least going back to AK 47 and Prokorov.

It wasn't ignored. It was investigated and there was no evidence.

[ReasonablySober]

Pablo's amazing.

[Matches Malone]

Pablo rules.

We need to get Adam Silver more on Pablo's radar and find out what that alien is hiding. Ruining the league and I wouldn't be shocked if he knows about more circumvented deals out there. I don't trust him.

[Ron Swanson]

I don't even know what Cuban's doing. Remember, this is the guy that also defended that racist POS Donald Sterling with the rationale that "we all make mistakes". It's like dude, you're not even an owner at this point. You don't need to simp this hard for Ballmer and the league anymore, and if anything, it's just making him look just as corrupt and sketchy as the people he's so aggressively defending.