Isn’t this Kawhi Leonard saga getting out of hand? After finding out about his deal with Aspiration and the potential underhanded ploy there, the six-foot-seven Clippers wing has been under a lot of scrutiny. And rightfully so, considering the sheer implications of the saga and how it may envelop the entire franchise. Everyone is expecting a lot of backlash on the team, including the threat of voiding future first-rounders and even Leonard’s contract!

And honestly? It looks like the team is starting to make peace with it. Recently, the Los Angeles Clippers posted a pre-season hype video featuring a montage of its biggest stars: James Harden, Ivica Zubac, Kris Dunn, and Derrick Jones Jr. While watching it the first time around, something felt off, and then it clicked… they didn’t add Kawhi Leonard. Skipping over the Klaw in a pre-season montage means that things are getting serious within the Clippers organization.

Obviously, there’s going to be a lack of trust there. On top of the $50M/year that Kawhi is earning in his contract, he signed a 4-year/28mil endorsement deal with Aspiration. But as soon as we found out that Steve Ballmer had a heavy hand in that company? Things started to make a lot of sense. Investigation from Pablo Torre has revealed a range of problematic aspects, including the fact that payments were made suspiciously during a time when the company was already struggling, and aligned with payments sent out to Leonard himself.

While multiple sources predict Leonard will play out his current contract with the Clippers, the investigation could lead to league penalties against the team. The Clippers organization appears to have shifted its focus, with one former staffer saying, “They’re done building around [Kawhi],” according to ESPN. Now, that intention may have just received the clearest evidence of it all.

After all, since arriving to LA back in 2019, Kawhi has averaged 24.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He has been the franchise centerpiece despite consistent injury issues, and even received a $176 million extension back in 2021. There is simply no reason to include him in a montage that includes some of the best players that have played for the franchise in recent years. Kawhi is firmly a part of that, and the non-inclusion certainly points to deliberate exclusion.

The league’s response to the situation has been pretty light thus far. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, and the “totality of evidence” rather than a mere “appearance of impropriety.” In fact, league insiders and team owners are hedging their bets on a rather light, if not non-existent, punishment for the Clippers as per a new report. Let’s take a look at what the report has to say, and if the LA Clippers should brace for impact!

Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers set for unprecedented punishment?

There is the possibility, and precedent, for an incredibly rough punishment in the Kawhi Leonard-Steve Ballmer controversy. Remember Joe Smith? His secret dealings with the Timberwolves cost them 5 first future first-round picks as well as $3.5mil! So, when the stakes are much higher, and the star shines brighter, what’s the league going to do? Because we’re not talking about a role player here–the Klaw is one of the highest-paid stars in the entire NBA.

According to journalist Pablo Torres? They might end up doing nothing. Of course, the punishments were much harsher back in the early 2000s because David Stern didn’t play around. After all, where do you think the “MJ was suspended” rumors came from? But in the current day and age, it doesn’t look like Adam Silver is keen to walk down the same path.

In a new report by Torres, he revealed the crux of his conversations with team owners and league insiders. “I can say I’ve spoken to four [owners] who think that it’s absurd that this is something that the NBA would potentially not punish proportionally to the evidence.” 

After all, this entire drama has been publicized beyond belief. The paper trail is enormous, and just about everyone knows what actually happened. So, if all the Clippers just get a slap on the wrist because of this, it’s gonna be a miracle. Especially considering the overall implication of the cap circumvention. If, even after getting caught, the Clippers and Leonard escape with minimal punishment, does that not set a very problematic precedent for the rest of the league?

With rumors suggesting that other teams may as well have been engaging in similar measures, the Aspiration saga can be easily viewed as a rabbit hole which only gets more concerning, the deeper we get. For now, it is clear that there is unending evidence of the fact that some wrongdoing has taken place. Considering the extent of focus and the seriousness of rules that the NBA has when it comes to salary cap and circumvention, non-action appears to be the simply illogical.