Did Steve Balmer pay Kawhi Leonard under the table?

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!

 

I don't understand why the other owners would go for this though. Basically the super rich owners can just buy your star players.

 

Yeah ultimately Silver is just a mouthpiece for all of the owners. We've seen in all the CBA a strong preference for rules that benefit small markets. I expect if there is solid evidence Silver comes down hard. Balmer wealth, market, and paying for a big arena makes him a BIGGER target amongst other owners - not a smaller one.

But owners also won't want a precedent set where they could be the next one to get in trouble. So they will want some solid evidence.

 

A fine is meaningless.

2 FRPs minimum. Maybe a playoff ban this year.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...ion-days-later-kawhi-leonard-got-late-payment

 

that's pretty interesting....dots being connected

what will be more interesting if there are dots connecting some 2M dollar quid pro quo around that time going from Ballmer--->Wong. At this point, it seems likely

 

The contract should be voided but the cap hit should still remain. The anti-amnesty clause.

Kawhi should be kicked out of the league.

The Clippers should lose all possible picks that they have. I think that's out to 2031 or 2032? I know they owe some of them but they lose any swaps.

 

I’ll say it again….they should be forced to reverse the PG13/SGA trade! That’ll teach ‘em!

 

Hmmmm

 

Double wow!

 

if it quacks like a duck....

 

What a joke. Both of these groups.

 

Apparently a lot of other teams are watching this closely. If there is no "real" penalty (significant fines, multiple FRP losses), other teams may use this as a way to circumvent the salary cap as well.

Look! Sharpe just signed a five year/50 million contract. Behind the scenes, he is also collecting money elsewhere. Salary cap problems? Not here!

Either Silver has a backbone or he is a symbolic patsy with no guts and no vision.

 

It’s pathetic the league won’t let teams just do a bunch of illegal shit. This is America goddammit!

 

You might be right but I sure hope we don't try some shit. A lot of times the first person to break a rule doesn't get caught or if they do doesn't get punished but if the NBA doesn't find anything actionable. I would feel safer assuming that they'll be watching close enough to get the next team than thinking they just don't have a spine.

 

NEED!!!

 

Bill Simmons with an interesting theory, what if Kawhi never knew about this?

The idea is it was 100% setup from his side only with his uncle Dennis. That explains why it was so critical it was a completely no show deal instead of some thing he does a 1hour TV ad or takes some pictures or whatever.

 

Silver doesn't have or not have a backbone, his role is a spokesperson for the owners.

So whatever punishment does or does not happens will not be something the owners are sitting back and taking note of. It will be whatever the owners decide they want to have happen.