Danilo Gallinari says Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard should pay $50M after lenient fine
Danilo Gallinari says Kawhi Leonard should have been fined $50 million over the Clippers scandal, claiming it changed his NBA career.
Former Los Angeles Clippers player Danilo Gallinari has recently spoken on the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard.
An independent investigation conducted into the Clippers and Leonard regarding salary cap circumvention resulted in a hefty fine, draft picks, and the suspension of franchise owner Steve Ballmer.
Now that Ballmer has accepted his fate after the NBA imposed a $30 million fine on the Clippers, along with a $700,000 fine on Leonard. However, Gallinari, who formerly played for the franchise between 2017 and 2019, believes the fine handed to the seven-time NBA All-Star is too lenient. Leonard should pay $50 million instead.
“He should pay all of that $50 million. He changed the trajectory of my career and put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles,” Gallinari said during the A Cresta Alta podcast.
Danilo Gallinari accused Kawhi Leonard of changing his NBA career trajectory
Gallinari argued that the money Leonard allegedly received off-contract should go to charity. He also claims that Leonard’s demands caused the Clippers to trade Gallinari to the Clippers in 2019 for Paul George.
“What happened to my NBA career wasn’t decided by a general manager or an owner, but by a player who decided that team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else. He should give that money to charity. He should pay all $50 million, not just $700,000,” he further added.
For those unaware, the Clippers acquired All-Star forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder back in July 2019. The trade was part of a plan to bring Leonard to Los Angeles, but Leonard had made it clear that getting George was the condition for him joining the Clippers.
George and his representatives approached Thunder general manager Sam Presti about finding a trade. The Clippers sent OKC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Gallinari, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected 2023 first-round pick, and two additional pick swaps.
After the trade was completed, Leonard signed a four-year, $141 million maximum contract with the Clippers.
Former Los Angeles Clippers player Danilo Gallinari has recently spoken on the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard. An independent investigation conducted into the Clippers and Leonard regarding salary cap circumvention resulted in a hefty fine, draft picks, and the suspension of franchise owner Steve Ballmer.