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

[Tofubeque]

imho, it's starting to look like kawhi's fallout with the spurs didn't have that much to do with his injury.

It was said by a Spurs trainer that Lawrence Frank was already visiting Kawhi (tampering) when he was sitting out from the Spurs.

And I read a pretty compelling case on the GB that Kawhi was even withholding services from the Clippers before this recently reported 1.7M went through. After the payment, he played 30mins for the first time that season, and got his season high a couple games later.

I always gave Kawhi the benefit of the doubt on his health issues because the quad issue seems real and athletes know their body best. But it’s starting to look like a pattern of behavior.

[tanuki1031]

If the Raps and MLSE had acceded to most of uncle Dennis's demands, not the part ownership of the Leafs but the endorsement parts, and he stayed for a year, or 1 plus 1, how would Raptors fans have felt about that? Compared to the indignation about the Clippers. If stuff came out later I mean.

Probably devastated because on top of the endorsements the Rapts would have likely gone through with the PG & Russ trade. Let's go nuts and say the ensuing trade does and/or does not happen and either route ends with another title as the cap off.

The devastation comes with fair confidence that Silver would come down HARD on the Raptors for street cred. Larry T is my friend, Masai is my friend, both are reputable individuals who have contributed greatly to the league and to the globalization of basketball - and yet here I am levying the harshest punishment possible because as your commissioner I must remain objective.

Silver would probably remove the 2020 title for sure, possibly even the 2019 one, cancel the contracts of the players acquired in the trade, forfeiture of those picks dealt and additional future picks, the largest fines in NBA history, Larry T and Masai are suspended a year, which expedites the Ed Rogers take over and both of them being booted out mid-suspension. The only "leniency" would be Masai may stay on with the Giants of Africa.

[tanuki1031]

As Bruce Arthur noted when he was on H&W pod...how did Ballmer make all that money when he was Microsoft? Microsoft was involved in a huge antitrust lawsuit that was settled with him as CEO. He has a history of operating at the edge of what is considered legal in his business practices.

KOC brought this up in his pod today exactly as you put it. Ballmer has always operated at the edge and pushing as far as he could go because of his competitive nature especially in sports. The example KOC gave was when he invested in a local high school while still with M$ Ballmer threw money around to recruit all the best players & coaches. High school!!

[SharoneWright]

What kind of harm are you envisioning Ballmer could do? I assume you don't mean hiring a hitman. I'm not doubting he could do things to Silver, just curious what you mean for example.

No idea. But he is the 800 lb gorilla in the room. Financial? Reputational? Lawsuits? Could undercut the NBA and Silver on any number of issues.

Anyway, I'm intentionally pushing the envelope of my thought process. But I'm sure that in a meeting, Silver is more nervous than Ballmer. It's a matter of power and who needs who more and who is more vulnerable. It's not the 151Billionaire..

[earthtone]

Read on Twitter

the slap on the wrist is coming lol

Utter disgrace

What are people expecting Silver to say here?

They've already hired a firm and the investigation is underway. All he's saying is that he won't act until all of the evidence is collected and examined, I'm not sure what else he'd be expected to say under the circumstances

[StopitLeo]

If the Clippers, Kawhi and Uncle Dennis get away with this with a slap on the wrist, then the NBA CBA isn't worth the paper its written on.

It becomes open season for teams, players and agents to find creative ways to funnel secret multi-million dollar payments to players in order to circumvent the cap.

There has to be in the range of 25 owners or more who have a vested interest in not allowing cap circumvention to become a tool to sign free agents and retain players. Even the Lakers don't want this (not just small market teams), which is why LAL refused to cave to Kawhi's demands in 2019.

Even the maximum punishment isn't that severe. This is what I predict:

- Dennis Wong will take the fall and be forced to sell his 1% ownership in the Clippers and will be suspended from attending games for a year
- Clippers will be fined the maximum amount of $7.5M (which Ballmer won't miss at all)
- Kawhi's deal with Aspiration will be voided, which is meaningless since the company has defaulted
- Uncle Dennis will be suspended from being a player representative
- Kawhi will not admit to any wrongdoing but nevertheless pays the $350,000 fine because someone on his team broke the rules without him knowing but he still takes responsibility

I expect that the NBAPA will do everything in their power to prevent the NBA from voiding Kawhi's contract.

The only meaningful punishment will be the forfeiture of picks. They should take all their picks for 7 years.

[SharoneWright]

They should take all their picks for 7 years.

At this rate, and for various reasons, The Clippers won't every have a RFP again!!

[ciueli]

the slap on the wrist is coming lol

Utter disgrace

What are people expecting Silver to say here?

They've already hired a firm and the investigation is underway. All he's saying is that he won't act until all of the evidence is collected and examined, I'm not sure what else he'd be expected to say under the circumstances

Yeah, I didn't take away anything from that beyond that Silver is trying to quiet things down until the whole investigation is done, also throw in the fact that he needs to do everything he possibly can to appear impartial or he might open the possibility of a lawsuit or accusations of bias and it makes sense. There was no way he was ever going to come out and say "boy, this looks really bad, don't worry everyone, there will be a stiff punishment for these transgressions", it's just not the way lawyers talk.

[xb3at band1tx]

there are so many red flags with this ordeal

I don't see ballmer having a true way out unless all 29 owners just agree to publicly get rid of the salary cap

[brownbobcat]

Even the maximum punishment isn't that severe. This is what I predict:

- Dennis Wong will take the fall and be forced to sell his 1% ownership in the Clippers and will be suspended from attending games for a year
- Clippers will be fined the maximum amount of $7.5M (which Ballmer won't miss at all)
- Kawhi's deal with Aspiration will be voided, which is meaningless since the company has defaulted
- Uncle Dennis will be suspended from being a player representative
- Kawhi will not admit to any wrongdoing but nevertheless pays the $350,000 fine because someone on his team broke the rules without him knowing but he still takes responsibility

I expect that the NBAPA will do everything in their power to prevent the NBA from voiding Kawhi's contract.

The only meaningful punishment will be the forfeiture of picks. They should take all their picks for 7 years.

If I'm a player - nevermind a billionaire owner - why does this penalty prevent me from doing this?

I get potentially millions more than the cap allows and a fine that's less than what I spend at Magic City? Done.

[causal_fan]

I would say that ESPN is doing its best to downplay any wrongdoing.

[rage2021]

If the Clippers, Kawhi and Uncle Dennis get away with this with a slap on the wrist, then the NBA CBA isn't worth the paper its written on.

It becomes open season for teams, players and agents to find creative ways to funnel secret multi-million dollar payments to players in order to circumvent the cap.

There has to be in the range of 25 owners or more who have a vested interest in not allowing cap circumvention to become a tool to sign free agents and retain players. Even the Lakers don't want this (not just small market teams), which is why LAL refused to cave to Kawhi's demands in 2019.

This is a good point. It sets precedence either way.
Slap on the wrist and it's open season , if you get caught just point back to this incident and tell Silver to EFF off.

The problem here imo is Silver. Just looked weak and spineless from the beginning. Need a new commissioner

[TheAlchemist23]

As Bruce Arthur noted when he was on H&W pod...how did Ballmer make all that money when he was Microsoft? Microsoft was involved in a huge antitrust lawsuit that was settled with him as CEO. He has a history of operating at the edge of what is considered legal in his business practices.

H&W podcast?

[TheAlchemist23]

Silver is gonna get himself fired by poorer (LOL) team owners if he lets the Clippers off the hook

[WWSRD]

the slap on the wrist is coming lol

Utter disgrace

What are people expecting Silver to say here?

They've already hired a firm and the investigation is underway. All he's saying is that he won't act until all of the evidence is collected and examined, I'm not sure what else he'd be expected to say under the circumstances

The regulations state that circumstantial evidence is enough to punish. Meaning he only needs the appearance of cap circumvention behavior to drop the hammer. Based on the NBA's rules, the Clippers should be in a position where THEY need to prove their innocence given the optics/results/evidence of the situation. It's pretty simple. Ballmer gave them 50million. They gave 48 million to Kawhi (cash+stocks) to exclusively stay on Clippers. Other franchises have reported Kawhi's team requested such offers. That's more than enough circumstantial evidence to punish.

His comments are clearly him establishing that he WANTS TO WALK THAT ALL BACK. He is shifting the dynamics as to where the NBA needs to prove guilt and circumstantial evidence isn't enough. He's changing the policy or stating the policy is open enough that he can use his discretion.

First he blatantly fixes the draft to facilitate a Luka to Lakers move.....for the good of the league.
Now he's going to allow clear cap circumvention to protect the other LA franchise.

Punishing the Clippers is bad for league revenue. Big Money Market. Biggest Money Owner. Him building pimped out arenas raises the value of the whole league. Silver will not seriously hurt the ability of the Clippers to build a contender. He desperately wants them to be elite and in the mix.

[causal_fan]

When is someone going to investigate the sweetheart deal that Jalen Brunson gave the Knicks - that deal just smells.

[mtcan]

As Bruce Arthur noted when he was on H&W pod...how did Ballmer make all that money when he was Microsoft? Microsoft was involved in a huge antitrust lawsuit that was settled with him as CEO. He has a history of operating at the edge of what is considered legal in his business practices.

H&W podcast?

Hello and Welcome podcast.

Will had Bruce on and they spoke for over 40ish minutes and they talked about the Toronto Star article.

[WWSRD]

Silver probably LOVES that Ballmer will throw another 50million at Kawhi just like that. Hearing that kinda stuff is probably the only way that ghoul can cum.

[XTC]

Wtf

Read on Twitter

NBA is cooked. Silvers press conference should have been the complete opposite of this.
Owners will vote him out.

Owners dont care about winning. Owners only care about getting money. If Ballmer is forced to leave, that hurts the NBA itself considering how much money and power he holds.

Silver is not going to do ****, and the other owners are not going to do anything about it either.

[brownbobcat]

The regulations state that circumstantial evidence is enough to punish. Meaning he only needs the appearance of cap circumvention behavior to drop the hammer. Based on the NBA's rules, the Clippers should be in a position where THEY need to prove their innocence given the optics/results/evidence of the situation. It's pretty simple. Ballmer gave them 50million. They gave 48 million to Kawhi (cash+stocks) to exclusively stay on Clippers. Other franchises have reported Kawhi's team requested such offers. That's more than enough circumstantial evidence to punish.

The 2nd payment is much more damning. $2M arrives from Wong (a ridiculously small "investment") and 9 days later Kawhi gets paid his $1.75M that uncle Dennis has been hounding them for?