Kawhi Leonard Signed a Secret $28M Deal. Steve Ballmer Funded a Fraud. We Followed the Money. | PTFO

[snaquille oatmeal]

Jeanie buss dodging uncle Dennis advances in 2019

[Hello Brooklyn]

The problem with this case is its basically impossible to prove. Balmer invested in a company that chose to give money to Kawhi. But he can't really be directly implicated.

With the Joe Smith scandals there was direct evidence. He literally took less money and there was a direct agreement. His agent basically testified to this exact deal.

We won't find this type of evidence for Kawhi. I think its more likely Balmer gets away scot free. If anyone may be punished it could be Kawhi.

[zero rings]

The circumstantial evidence is damning, and as Lowe brings up, the CBA doesn’t require more than circumstantial evidence to bring the hammer down on the Clippers. Silver and the other owners can punish Ballmer however they like.

That's interesting because Shams just said yesterday that it would take more than circumstantial evidence to issue out punishment. Shams seems more like a mercenary and mouthpiece for the league so that might play a part in his commentary.

Zach read the CBA clause about cap circumvention on his pod, and it basically describes this case verbatim. There’s more than enough here to punish the Clippers.

Besides, Silver has the governing power to do whatever he wants, as long as the owners back him. This isn’t a court of law.

[The Master]

I haven't read every detail on the matter, but how are people assigning blame between Ballmer and Leonard? I see some suggesting lifetime ban for Leonard and revoking of draft picks for Ballmer, which doesn't do anything to him. Shouldn't the more powerful one (Ballmer) and the one responsible for the employee get more blame and punishment?

If all these allegations turn out to be correct, 75% of this situation on Ballmer and Clippers, at the end of the day it was them organizing the whole scheme.

It doesn't mean that Kawhi shouldn't be severely punished thoguh, because the problem with Kawhi is - what's ridiculous from salary cap perspective - that we truly don't know how much he earned and how much under the table money he received. If he was promised to get additional 50 mil $ in 2021 or 2022 as an injury-prone superstar after mediocre seasons, what did he receive as the hottest free agent in 2019 and the reigning finals MVP, who could've signed a contract with Lakers? Considering that endorsement deals have different taxation, this can have very serious legal non-basketball ramifications for Kawhi and his inner circle as well.

This is much much more serious than the Joe Smith case, both for the league and for non-basketball reasons.

[JayMKE]

The problem with this case is its basically impossible to prove. Balmer invested in a company that chose to give money to Kawhi. But he can't really be directly implicated.

With the Joe Smith scandals there was direct evidence. He literally took less money and there was a direct agreement. His agent basically testified to this exact deal.

We won't find this type of evidence for Kawhi. I think it’s more likely Balmer gets away scot free. If anyone may be punished it could be Kawhi.

Considering the cofounder is facing felony fraud charges for defrauding investors, I think internal communications of Aspiration will be preserved and available along with his & other former employees testimony. This company being fraudulent is why we know about this at all, that’s the smoking gun.

[Kordic27]

I think this'll fizzle out. There won't be enough hard evidence, but it's a massive stain on the league regardless. There is no way for anyone with any sanity whatsoever to believe that Kawhi Leonard got a deal significantly higher than much more high profile celebrities, to not have to advertise a company that the Steve Balmer funded. I mean, cmon.

[Kordic27]

"Scammers do scammy things".

You can make fun of Cuban for that, but I've heard enough alternate explanations and enough about how these startups operate and looked up Ballmer's net worth to know this is basically going to be the summary of the NBA's findings of their investigation.

I haven't heard any alternate explanations. Or at least any plausible ones...

[PushDaRock]

I think this'll fizzle out. There won't be enough hard evidence, but it's a massive stain on the league regardless. There is no way for anyone with any sanity whatsoever to believe that Kawhi Leonard got a deal significantly higher than much more high profile celebrities, to not have to advertise a company that the Steve Balmer funded. I mean, cmon.

Totally disagree about it fizzling out, no chance of that. In the court of public opinion, this looks lopsided in favor of rules having been broken. If the league claims there is no wrong doing, they're going to have to prove how they came to this conclusion for the general public to buy it.

[Chuck Everett]

I think this'll fizzle out. There won't be enough hard evidence, but it's a massive stain on the league regardless. There is no way for anyone with any sanity whatsoever to believe that Kawhi Leonard got a deal significantly higher than much more high profile celebrities, to not have to advertise a company that the Steve Balmer funded. I mean, cmon.

Totally disagree about it fizzling out, no chance of that. In the court of public opinion, this looks lopsided in favor of rules having been broken. If the league claims there is no wrong doing, they're going to have to prove how they came to this conclusion for the general public to buy it.

Public opinion? Who cares about this other than people who post on RealGM/reddit? Seriously?

[PushDaRock]

I think this'll fizzle out. There won't be enough hard evidence, but it's a massive stain on the league regardless. There is no way for anyone with any sanity whatsoever to believe that Kawhi Leonard got a deal significantly higher than much more high profile celebrities, to not have to advertise a company that the Steve Balmer funded. I mean, cmon.

Totally disagree about it fizzling out, no chance of that. In the court of public opinion, this looks lopsided in favor of rules having been broken. If the league claims there is no wrong doing, they're going to have to prove how they came to this conclusion for the general public to buy it.

Public opinion? Who cares about this other than people who post on RealGM/reddit? Seriously?

ok

[BigGargamel]

Clippers will probably be docked a couple of first round picks, which is fine because they always draft bums anyway.

[heatwillbeback]

I haven't read every detail on the matter, but how are people assigning blame between Ballmer and Leonard? I see some suggesting lifetime ban for Leonard and revoking of draft picks for Ballmer, which doesn't do anything to him. Shouldn't the more powerful one (Ballmer) and the one responsible for the employee get more blame and punishment?

I think Leonard 100% was involved but I don’t think he will face discipline.

For me, circumventing the cap is a team violation, rather than a player one. A player doesn’t have a cap- they get paid for services.

Maybe the uncle will become a persona non grata to the league if he wasn’t one already, and he won’t be able to have any representation ability. But Kawhi himself will come out of this with no sanctions.

[manlisten]

For me, circumventing the cap is a team violation, rather than a player one. A player doesn’t have a cap- they get paid for services.

A max contract is effectively a player's cap. Kawhi and Uncle D knowingly went around the cap by requesting illegal forms of payment.

[The Master]

For me, circumventing the cap is a team violation, rather than a player one. A player doesn’t have a cap- they get paid for services.

First, salary cap limits every player's earnings.

Second, taking paycut in basic salary and taking the rest in form of endorsement payment or stocks can be more beneficial to players from perspective of taxation.

In this scenario, Kawhi wanted to heavily benefit in both. AND - considering that Ballmer did so much with his 2nd deal with Clippers, you can only imagine what he gave him in 2019.

[hauntedcomputer]

Never thought we'd see a day when the other owners are demanding to bring back the ethical standards of the Sterling era

[Bergmaniac]

The circumstantial evidence is damning, and as Lowe brings up, the CBA doesn’t require more than circumstantial evidence to bring the hammer down on the Clippers. Silver and the other owners can punish Ballmer however they like.

That's interesting because Shams just said yesterday that it would take more than circumstantial evidence to issue out punishment. Shams seems more like a mercenary and mouthpiece for the league so that might play a part in his commentary.

Shams works for ESPN which is paying billions each year for the rights to show NBA games, of course he is trying to minimise the scandal which harms the reputation of the league.

[zimpy27]

Clippers had signed a few players to what appeared to be excellent deals around this same time period. I imagine they are getting paid in similar ways.

This could just be the top of the iceberg.

[flranger]

A max contract is effectively a player's cap. Kawhi and Uncle D knowingly went around the cap by requesting illegal forms of payment.

There is no evidence the payment to Kawhi/UncD is illegal.

It certainly might not comply with the rules of the CBA, but it doesn't make it against the law.

[FarBeyondDriven]

but remember guys...the league is totally not rigged

[Bad Bart]

but remember guys...the league is totally not rigged

This is merely the exception that proves the rule!