The 2025 NBA Off Season (includes free agency)

[Raindog]

What if the Clippers released this info to get them out of the cap hell they're in? That would be some 4D chess.

Yeah, people talking about voiding Leonard's contract and the Clippers are all "don't threaten me with a good time."

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a statement from the Clippers.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[95pro]

They have to come down hard IMO. It would be easy for the richest teams in the league to pull off something similar. If you come down hard and make the penalty severe? That at least sends a message.

Also, I don't think it should just be the teams punished. If a player is found to have participated, they should be gone for at least a season IMO. In fact, maybe even void their current contract. It could be argued that the only reason they signed with that team is because of the under the table deal.

lets say a player signed a 40M/4 year contract, 10M/year. Player is found to have side pay of 20M, then the player should have to sit two seasons would be my form of punishment.

but nothing will happen except future draft picks like tampering currently is done.

I don't know that I would be that harsh but the minimum should be a voided contract. If a player knowingly participates in something against the rules you simply can't let that slide. That would just encourage players to find other ways to circumvent league rules or go along with whatever comes their way. It would open Pandora's box. Both sides of this need to see consequences.

My response was only to that part of you original post, if the league decides to go that route you mentioned in bold. To add, yes the player and org need to be punished.

My personal opinion on what is most likely to occur, is it will be handled like how tampering is currently done. This is one case but huge numbers, I'm sure there are other smaller cases where sweeteners are thrown in. What is crazy is that Kahwi keeps getting paid.

 

[GatorAZ]

Here is a statement from the Clippers.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

That clears things up. Nothing to see here!

 

[Adrian]

Cam Thomas reportedly signs qualifying offer to return to Nets after both sides couldn't reach long-term deal

Thomas averaged 24 points last season with the Nets.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Phrazbit]

Rumblings that Ben Simmons is going to retire, I’m not at all surprised. He’s never looked like he really enjoys playing basketball, and it seems like he has perpetually used any excuse to not be in games.

 

[Superbone]

Here is a statement from the Clippers.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

The Clippers wave their hand and say, "This is not the droid you're looking for."

 

[Adrian]

Clippers' Steve Ballmer claims ignorance over reported $28M Kawhi Leonard deal, says third-party company 'conned me'

Ballmer insisted that the Clippers didn't circumvent the salary cap and that he'd been 'conned' by a company whose co-founder recently pleaded guilty to fraud.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Phrazbit]

The Leonard plot thickens. The original reporter says he now has evidence of another $20 million side deal with the same company and Leonard the two deals total 48 million just 2 million short of Steve Ballmer’s 50 million he gave the company.

Nearly 50 million in basically bribery to get an MVP caliber star while avoiding the salary cap.

If they end up being able to prove this, I think he needs to be stripped of the franchise.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Leonard plot thickens. The original reporter says he now has evidence of another $20 million side deal with the same company and Leonard the two deals total 48 million just 2 million short of Steve Ballmer’s 50 million he gave the company.

Nearly 50 million in basically bribery to get an MVP caliber star while avoiding the salary cap.

If they end up being able to prove this, I think he needs to be stripped of the franchise.

That's just crazy to shell out that much for Kawhi. I know he's amazing when he's healthy but he's never healthy and it's not like he is LeBron as far as attracting eyeballs either. Very weird situation. Overpaying to get him there, ok, but that much? Seems excessive. Although we are talking billionaires and spoiled athletes who think a few million less than max money is disrespectful.

 

[Phrazbit]

That's just crazy to shell out that much for Kawhi. I know he's amazing when he's healthy but he's never healthy and it's not like he is LeBron as far as attracting eyeballs either. Very weird situation. Overpaying to get him there, ok, but that much? Seems excessive. Although we are talking billionaires and spoiled athletes who think a few million less than max money is disrespectful.

This was right after he just dragged the Raptors to a title, whatever injury problems he'd had through that point were tainted with his dissatisfaction with the Spurs, he didn't want to be there.

IMO, at that time, he was viewed as, if healthy, the 2nd best player in the league behind LeBron and unquestionably a top 5 player.

 

[Hoop Head]

This was right after he just dragged the Raptors to a title, whatever injury problems he'd had through that point were tainted with his dissatisfaction with the Spurs, he didn't want to be there.

IMO, at that time, he was viewed as, if healthy, the 2nd best player in the league behind LeBron and unquestionably a top 5 player.

I thought this had to deal with his recent extension. That's what I saw on Twitter. I guess ill need to dig deeper.

 

[Superbone]

That's just crazy to shell out that much for Kawhi. I know he's amazing when he's healthy but he's never healthy and it's not like he is LeBron as far as attracting eyeballs either. Very weird situation. Overpaying to get him there, ok, but that much? Seems excessive. Although we are talking billionaires and spoiled athletes who think a few million less than max money is disrespectful.

He helped the Raptors win a championship. That's probably the crux of it. And Balmer projecting that on the Clippers.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

leads one to ask tho... will the nba or media start looking into stars who've "taken less"? or haven't renegotiated their contracts in typical timely manners? am i just high or could kawhi just be the first

 

[Superbone]

leads one to ask tho... will the nba or media start looking into stars who've "taken less"? or haven't renegotiated their contracts in typical timely manners? am i just high or could kawhi just be the first

Both could be true, right?

 

[leclerc]

Regardless, I think Ballmer should be stripped of the franchise.

Also do something about that new ugly logo. Looking at it, they are not the Clippers of old.

 

[Hoop Head]

Didn't Balmer provide most or all of the funds for the Clippers new arena? If he did then that could help save him. They want expansion and not contraction so moving back to Staples isn't a good move for the NBA.

 

[Yuma]

Regardless, I think Ballmer should be stripped of the franchise.

Also do something about that new ugly logo. Looking at it, they are not the Clippers of old.

People seem to like the Cracker Barrel logo.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't know that I would be that harsh but the minimum should be a voided contract. If a player knowingly participates in something against the rules you simply can't let that slide. That would just encourage players to find other ways to circumvent league rules or go along with whatever comes their way. It would open Pandora's box. Both sides of this need to see consequences.

Agreed it took two to tango. Punish them both.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The team broke the rule while the player cashed a check. I can't fault the player much. Maybe make them go up for lottery and not able to choose their next team but suspending an athlete with a very limited shelf life for accepting more compensation is a bit much. If the player demanded that compensation then maybe something harsher but few would have the stones to tell the owner to set up a shady back channel to pay them beyond the CBA.

Of course you can fault the player. He cheated too. He stole from the rest of the league. Both team and players are to blame.

The offense was financial, the consequence should be financial. Kahwai should be fined by more than what he received and his contract should be voided. The Clippers should be fined by more than the contact given AND THAT AMOUNT AND TIME SHOULD BE ADDED TO THEIR CAP NUMBER.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Agreed it took two to tango. Punish them both.

I'm not sure how many it took to tango but punish them all. I'm hoping that Ballmer wasn't part of it but I'm also hoping the league nails whoever is behind this even if that includes the owner.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Of course you can fault the player. He cheated too. He stole from the rest of the league. Both team and players are to blame.

If he was aware of the details, sure. But when you have a father or uncle handling your business, it's easy to understand why the player might have been even further removed from the process than usual.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If he was aware of the details, sure. But when you have a father or uncle handling your business, it's easy to understand why the player might have been even further removed from the process than usual.

Now you know why it's a bad idea to have a father or uncle handling your business. I have a hunch most agents would not be part of this. It jeopardizes their ability to do business with all other players and people they represent.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If he was aware of the details, sure. But when you have a father or uncle handling your business, it's easy to understand why the player might have been even further removed from the process than usual.

You’re responsible for the actions of your agents.

 

[Yuma]

It's really against every player, team, and coach in the league trying to win a championship. What if our owner really liked Booker as a friend. Why not slip him an extra $50 million to stay in Phoenix? Is that fair to anyone else in the league. Teams have done this since sports began. That's why guys wanted to be on the Yankees, etc. The side advertising, probably above board, but you never know if the Yankees owner didn't call up a friend at a big name company to call Mickey Mantle's agent? Probably didn't happen, but it could.