ESPN’s Michael Wilbon recently revealed surprise about the NBA’s punishment for the Clippers after Kawhi Leonard’s salary-cap circumvention.
The Los Angeles Clippers found themselves on the receiving end of what was a yearlong investigation into salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard. The NBA recently stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks and a hefty $30 million fine to franchise owner Steve Ballmer. Additionally, Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank were also suspended per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Reacting to the league’s punishment, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon shared his surprise on his show, Pardon the Interruption.
“I didn’t think anything like this was going to happen, particularly to Steve Ballmer,” he said. “Really, nothing happened to Kawhi Leonard. $700,000 paid back, eh. Contract still going on, doesn’t miss any games.”
“It doesn’t matter what happens to Lawrence Frank. It doesn’t matter what happens to Kawhi, because nothing’s happening to Kawhi. Doesn’t matter what happens to Uncle Dennis. Steve Ballmer’s suspension is a big deal. That’s what I didn’t think would happen,” Wilbon further added.
According to Wilbon, the first five round picks could very much limit what a team could do in the future. He also compared a similar situation that took place more than two decades ago.
The NBA punished the Wolves for circumventing the NBA salary cap involving Joe Smith in 2000. Minnesota had an under-the-table agreement with Smith, which ultimately resulted in the league stripping the team of five first-round draft picks. However, two of them were later returned to the team.
The Timberwolves were also fined $3.5 million at that time, and franchise owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale were suspended for a year.
While the Timberwolves did not fight back against the league after the punishment, the Clippers reportedly “intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process,” per Shams Charania.
The Los Angeles Clippers found themselves on the receiving end of what was a yearlong investigation into salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard. The NBA recently stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks and a hefty $30 million fine to franchise owner Steve Ballmer.