Los Angeles Clippers followers are little question bracing for what may very well be a protracted scenario involving Kawhi Leonard. Leonard and the Clippers are at present being investigated by the NBA for alleged wage cap circumvention, and that would carry properly into the season.
That’s unhealthy information for the Clippers, who will probably be left ready for the opposite shoe to drop so far as potential punishments. If the allegations of Leonard receiving as much as $48 million in further wage off the books are true, then the Clippers might have the e book thrown at them.
There’s the Joe Smith scenario involving the Minnesota Timberwolves again within the day. But when confirmed, this could be falling away a lot worse. That’s what scares the Clippers and their followers.
What’s going to the NBA’s punishment be for Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers?
Commissioner Adam Silver has a variety of latitude when figuring out punishment within the occasion he finds whereas doing. Nevertheless, two of the most definitely eventualities each contain Los Angeles getting completely pummeled by the league.
One situation would see the Clippers stripped of their 2026 and 2028 choose swaps in addition to their 2030, 2031, and 2032 first-round picks. That can go away them with out a first-round choose for the following 8 years till 2033.
Additionally, Leonard might have his contract voted on and probably even be suspended by the league, although that latter punishment appears much less doubtless. Nonetheless, if the Clippers are left with out a first for the higher a part of a decade and abruptly haven’t got their greatest participant, then they’d be thrust into a tricky scenario.
The Los Angeles Clippers are bracing for a Leonard punishment
The Clippers have constructed a surprisingly stable roster round Leonard regardless of not having many property following the Paul George commerce that introduced him to Los Angeles. Nonetheless, if Leonard abruptly is not on the Clippers, then they may very well be in large bother with them not having an apparent fallback plan.
Moreover, Steve Ballmer might additionally face punishment for his alleged function within the scandal, which might embody a year-long suspension. These attainable punishments would absolutely put a damper on the Clippers’ plans of utilizing cap house within the summers of 2027 and 2028. In any case, potential free agent targets is likely to be turned off by the aftereffects of the Leonard scandal.
For the Clippers’ sake, they’re most likely quietly hoping for minimal punishment, if any, however the odds look like stacked in opposition to them heading into the season.
