NBA Rumors: Could Kawhi Leonard leave after the Clippers scandal?

Since Kawhi Leonard arrived at the Clippers in 2019, the franchise has operated with an almost obsessive care not to upset the player and his entourage, according to an extensive report by ESPN signed by Baxter Holmes. What was once hailed as a masterstroke in free agency has turned into a complex relationship, with medical issues, NBA investigations, and just three playoff series won in five years.

Injuries have followed Leonard since his time in San Antonio, and in Los Angeles, it has been no different: he has only been available for 58% of the games since his arrival. Additionally, the organization has been under the league's scrutiny on several occasions. Since 2019, the Clippers have been fined and sued for alleged violations related to Leonard, including the current case that investigates a possible attempt to circumvent the salary cap through a sponsorship deal with the company Aspiration.

"This investigation is different," acknowledged a former team member to Holmes. "This directly questions the integrity of Steve Ballmer. At some point, he will have to step out of the 'Kawhi business'."

During the 2019 free agency, Leonard's entourage already showed that negotiating with him would be a challenge. His uncle, Dennis Robertson, presented a list of demands that included ownership stake in the franchise, use of a private jet, a residence, and guaranteed money in external sponsorships. Similar requests were made to the Raptors and Lakers.

Although the Clippers did not agree to terms that violated the collective bargaining agreement, they granted other privileges: allowing Kawhi to live in San Diego and commute by helicopter to Los Angeles, skipping certain obligations with the media and community events, and integrating people from his inner circle into the organization.

Robertson also enforced a strict protocol on how to speak about the player publicly. Then-coach Doc Rivers was fined $50,000 for saying that Leonard "feels great" in a game where he rested due to "load management". The organization chose silence, a gesture that Leonard's entourage interpreted as loyalty.

The impact of his health in the locker room

Reports on Leonard's physical condition were considered "sacred secrets". Any communication mentioning him was reviewed by top management and at times, required approval from his team of representatives. This dynamic created tensions within the medical department. "It was as if the Clippers' medical staff couldn't really touch Kawhi ever," confessed another former franchise member.

The experience in San Antonio, where the player's relationship with the Spurs broke due to a medical conflict, weighed heavily on the Clippers' attitude. "If he could tell the Spurs to go to hell, he could do it to us as well. Everyone feared he would leave," recounted a former employee.

The fear of his departure, however, seems to have decreased. In 2023, Leonard accepted a three-year, $153 million extension, well below the four-year, $220 million option he was eligible for. The belief that no team would sign him in free agency without a favorable medical exam was crucial for both parties to reach an agreement.

That contract expires in 2027, and according to executives consulted by Holmes, it is likely to mark the end of the Kawhi era with the Clippers. "Building around him is over," declared a former organization member. "They know it, and he knows it too."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: ¿Podría salir Kawhi Leonard tras el escándalo de los Clippers?