Pablo Torre: Kawhi/Clippers/Ballmer/Aspiration Thread (part 2)

[Ballings7]

The Uncle Dennis stuff that came out last 24 hours is recycled reporting from earlier in the month about Kawhi's camp antics and demands. Basically things everyone already knows, was reported, and people have already validated in surrounding reports.

Nothing actually new that developed other than more talk from various folks who chimed in. Quota story.

Today, 9/25/25:

Dennis Robertson's Requests To Teams Went Beyond Norms

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/282034/Dennis-Robertsons-Requests-To-Teams-Went-Beyond-Norms



9/10/25:

Kawhi Leonard's Camp Asked Lakers For Endorsement Promise Without No-Show Clause

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281875/Kawhi-Leonards-Camp-Asked-Lakers-For-Endorsement-Promise-Without-No-Show-Clause

Kawhi Leonard's Camp Asked Raptors For No-Show Endorsement Deal, Equity

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281867/Kawhi-Leonards-Camp-Asked-Raptors-For-No-Show-Endorsement-Deal-Equity


**yawn**

Where's Torre at??

[Invictus88]

Read on Twitter

Yeahh.. I'm pretty sure the Clips are walking away with nothing worse than a slap on the wrist.

Ishbia's argument is he likes Ballmer and will take his word on it?! Wellll, I'm convinced! Nevermind all the other times Ballmer's already been caught. Is Ishbia really that thick? Arrogant?

It's just that the league has far more owners who are not in markets or who who don't have nearly as deep pockets and they're pissed. They make up a bigger portion of the owners. You don't hear a lot of owners coming to Ballmer's defense even if he's liked.

The Arthur podcast above, though, does bring up a good point - Ballmer is liked by other owners. If the same situation were happening to Dolan this would all get wrapped up quickly and decisively against him. Its about spine and appetite to do the right thing or stop pretending cap circumvention matters or only matters some of the time. Maybe league is trying to work out a strong enough punishment without completely alienating the richest owner in sports. Or trying to work out a way to save face. If NBA does not take a strong stance in the biggest cap circumvention scandal it has ever faced there's no turning back from the Pandora's Box it will open and will be the laughing stock of pro sports leagues. Might as well let one of the super rich oil countries take over.

Past experience has told me that once money gets involved (and to be certain circumventing cap/taxes is effectively stealing from other owners) that everything else is largely irrelevant. No amount of happy feelings or goodwill matters.

[manlisten]

The owners collectively agreed to a CBA that is almost singularly intended to prevent Ballmer from having a competitive advantage. Pretty sure they won't be ok with him circumventing the cap, regardless of what douchebags like Ishbia and Cuban are trying to sell.

[The Master]

The owners collectively agreed to a CBA that is almost singularly intended to prevent Ballmer from having a competitive advantage. Pretty sure they won't be ok with him circumventing the cap, regardless of what douchebags like Ishbia and Cuban are trying to sell.

1. Unfortunately, it seems likely that you can after all find 8 douchebags like Cuban and Ishbia, and it would somehow limit what the NBA can do with Ballmer.

2. Also, considering:

- ESPN downplaying the whole scandal,
- Silver being very 'defensive' about everything Aspiration-related,
- Cuban and Ishbia willing to make idiots out of themselves by the way they defend Ballmer,
- intel about potentially very long investigation incoming,

it's hard not to suspect what is the ultimate goal here. But maybe I'm pessimistic, you don't need a 3/4 majority to punish Ballmer for cap circumvention, this is correct.

[Sixers in 4]

The Uncle Dennis stuff that came out last 24 hours is recycled reporting from earlier in the month about Kawhi's camp antics and demands. Basically things everyone already knows, was reported, and people have already validated in surrounding reports.

Nothing actually new that developed other than more talk from various folks who chimed in. Quota story.

Today, 9/25/25:

Dennis Robertson's Requests To Teams Went Beyond Norms

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/282034/Dennis-Robertsons-Requests-To-Teams-Went-Beyond-Norms



9/10/25:

Kawhi Leonard's Camp Asked Lakers For Endorsement Promise Without No-Show Clause

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281875/Kawhi-Leonards-Camp-Asked-Lakers-For-Endorsement-Promise-Without-No-Show-Clause

Kawhi Leonard's Camp Asked Raptors For No-Show Endorsement Deal, Equity

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281867/Kawhi-Leonards-Camp-Asked-Raptors-For-No-Show-Endorsement-Deal-Equity


**yawn**

Where's Torre at??

Most of this is on Silvers plate. The reporting was there long ago but the NBA didn't do **** about it, and what Dennis did was in plain violation of the rules.

Like I said the CBA spells it clearly merely asking for these things should have had some sort of reprecussions to Kawhi and dennis but they did nothing.

[Old_Blue]

Ballmer could make this all go away by simply buying the League. Sadly, I am only half joking.

[BruttoNostra]

Ballmer could make this all go away by simply buying the League. Sadly, I am only half joking.

National Ballmer Association Aspiration?
The winner gets a free access to the best scam and fraud companies in the world.

[NiceLikeChrist]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

[pepe1991]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

OR

It's common practice among nba owners to cheat cap so they won't stomp Ballmer in fear of own dirty laundry.

It's very factual and obvious that Kawhi & Ballmer circumvented salary cap & used Aspiration for wire money out.

[Calvin Klein]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

you sure? Pretty sure most people believe Clippers cheated.

[jscott]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

….that’s certainly a take.

[Sofia]

Hurry up and drop the hammer Silver, you coward

[JonFromVA]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

I imagine for most journalists breaking a huge story like Pablo did is a major accomplishment just as I imagine most Physicians would consider saving millions of lives in-spite of irrational political opposition a great accomplishment.

[Invictus88]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

….that’s certainly a take.

Is there some sort of secret trolling counter or award given for saying dumb things on the internet to get other people to react? Like a hidden leaderboard somewhere that folks look at and just laugh at the commotion they cause?

I'm just trying to understand the rationale and the reward system for these type of actions. There must be something since they are (hopefully) purposely making themselves sound stupid....

And yes; there is the possibility this guy might not actually agree with Torre despite the heaps of circumstantial evidence saying otherwise. But posting this belief in a thread in which 95% of the folks agree wrongs occurred doesn't sound like the smartest idea regardless...

[grimlock]

This is the Silvers Epstein files. It ain't going away.

[ishoy123]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

Possible that he's a hack, but the Clippers also circumvented the cap.

[Curmudgeon]

So if Ballmer gets a slap on the wrist, can the commissioner ever punish an owner again? Can the owners ever again argue poverty when negotiating the collective bargaining agreement? Can an agent ever fail to ask for a lucrative under the table deal for his client? Can anyone with less wealth than Ballmer afford to purchase an expansion franchise?

[Enso]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

Nice try Microsoft ai bot

[Old_Blue]

took long enough for people to realize this pablo guy is a hack. NBA version of fauci just begging for clout and attention and getting high off 15 minutes of fame

….that’s certainly a take.

Oh, come on. Everyone knows the best place to work if you're "begging for clout and attention" is the National Institute of Health. That's why the Kardashians and all the other internet "influencers" want to work there. Right?

[Sofia]

This is the Silvers Epstein files. It ain't going away.