With every passing day, it seems more and more seemingly that the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard may face some form of punishment by the NBA. They’ve been accused of wage cap conference, with Leonard allegedly receiving as much as $28 million in further funds from the Clippers by way of a sponsorship firm known as Aspiration.
If the accusations are to be confirmed true, then the Clippers may very well be in deep trouble with the league. Actually, Leonard’s contract may even be voided.
Nevertheless, misplaced in all of the controversy surrounding Leonard and the Clippers is the truth that he’ll be wholesome to start out a season for the primary time in years. His being wholesome to start out a season for the primary time shortly is clearly an incredible factor for the Clippers.
Truly, they made a number of nice low season strikes to present him further assist earlier than the scandal broke. Nevertheless, if the Clippers are hammered by the NBA and his contract is voided, then that shall be a merciless twist for Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Clippers may waste a main Kawhi Leonard season
The Clippers actually hope that the league will transfer rapidly to resolve their investigation, so they will not be left ready for the opposite shoe to drop. Fortuitously for them, it appears unlikely that the league would void Leonard’s contract through the season, in response to NBA insider John Hollinger (subscription required).
That might lead to a free company frenzy for Leonard and presumably trigger him to affix a contender such because the Los Angeles Lakers. That might solely trigger extra frustration for different groups.
As a substitute, the NBA would possibly look to settle with the Clippers, which may lead to L.A. giving up a number of first-round picks. That might be the absolute best final result for the Clippers, even when it means them forfeiting first-round picks.
In any case, the league may discover vital wrongdoing and strip the Clippers of all of their first-rounders, that means they would not have a decide till 2032. In consequence, if the NBA offers the Clippers an out, then L.A. ought to completely take it.
The Clippers should rapidly put the Kawhi investigation behind them
Placing the investigation behind them as quickly as potential whereas struggling as few penalties as potential must be the secret for the Clippers. That is given what’s at stake for L.A.
They’ve a deep 10-man rotation to assist a wholesome Leonard, and it may be argued that that is the very best group he is had in six seasons in L.A. After ending with the fourth-best document within the West final season with Leonard lacking the primary 33 video games, they may very well be much better with him able to hit the bottom working.
A wholesome Leonard, a deeper group, and a greater document and playoff seed, and it isn’t exhausting to think about a possible path to the Western Convention Finals if every part goes proper. That can depend upon the result of the league’s investigation.
In the end, the Clippers are set as much as win now this season with Leonard lastly wholesome. Nevertheless, the league’s investigation into the Clippers may derail what may very well be their most promising season but.
