The NBA laughs at its own rules: no punishment for the Clippers or answers in the 'Kawhi case'

It is embarrassing that the NBA is evading the issue in the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers case. After 11 months of investigation into suspicions that the franchise used its sponsors to provide economic benefits to the player and circumvent salary cap rules, the league seems determined to find a way out that allows them not to penalize the Clippers.

And what is most concerning is that, while the NBA claims not to have found evidence that Steve Ballmer directly funneled money to Leonard, everything known about the case points to a very clear relationship between the interests of the Clippers, their sponsors, and the player's commercial deals. This decision, or lack thereof, significantly undermines the credibility of the NBA and, above all, of Adam Silver's administration.

The investigation began after documents related to Aspiration came to light, a company in which Ballmer invested $50 million in 2021. That same month, the Clippers signed a $300 million deal with the company. Later, in April 2022, Leonard secured a $28 million sponsorship deal with Aspiration. A former employee of the company even claimed that the agreement was aimed at bypassing the salary cap and described it as a supposed fictitious job.

During the 11 months of investigation, the NBA expanded its inquiries to other companies linked to the Clippers, including Daktronics and Boingo Wireless. However, the league maintains that there is no evidence that Ballmer used these companies to funnel money to Leonard. In recent discussions between the NBA and the Clippers, the focus has shifted to the presentations the team made between Leonard and his sponsors.

The Clippers argue that connecting players with sponsors is a common practice and deny involvement in negotiating Leonard's commercial contracts. The NBA itself has historically promoted certain relationships between players and sponsoring companies.

However, there is a significant contradiction. The NBA's operational manual for the 2021-22 season stated that teams could not recommend a player to a sponsor to secure a commercial deal. They could provide the player's or agent's contact information, but the rule set clear limits on franchise intervention.

The comparison with the Joe Smith case also illustrates that the NBA has been able to act decisively when salary rules were violated. In 2000, the Timberwolves lost five first-round draft picks and received a $3.5 million fine for a secret agreement with the player.

The difference, obviously, is that in that case, there was physical evidence of the clandestine agreement. Therefore, the NBA should be extremely clear now and explain what they found after almost a year of investigation. Because if they cannot prove that there was direct payment from Ballmer to Leonard, they must also clarify why those commercial agreements existed, how they came about, and the role played by the Clippers.

Adam Silver stated at the beginning of the investigation that the NBA had to prove that improper conduct had indeed occurred and that they would not act solely based on an appearance of irregularity.

But if the final resolution merely speaks of a possible "lack of oversight" and avoids a truly significant penalty, the NBA will have missed a crucial opportunity to demonstrate that its rules apply equally to everyone.

The NBA disregards the rules

This is not just about Kawhi Leonard or the Clippers. It is about whether the NBA rules truly carry the same weight for everyone. If a franchise can gain advantages for a star through its network of sponsors without facing a significant penalty, the competition's credibility is seriously undermined.

That's why it is particularly worrying that Adam Silver's administration seems to be seeking a compromise. The NBA cannot demand credibility when convenient and look the other way when one of its most powerful franchises is at the center of an investigation of this magnitude.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La NBA se ríe de sus propias reglas: ni castigo a los Clippers ni respuestas en el ‘caso Kawhi’