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“NBA-VS-LA CLIPPERS”
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The most important words in the NBA right now…not training camps…not impending free agents…not injuries….but this:
ARTICLE 13-CBA
Pay attention because history could be made when the NBA and its high powered law firm concludes its lengthy investigation of the Kawhi Leonard-LA Clippers-Salary Cap Violation case.
The NBA probe swirls around (48M) in cash and stock ownership given to the Clippers star as an outside addendum to his (50M) a year contract extension he signed with the Clippers a couple of years ago.
The investigation targets Clippers mega-rich owner Steve Ballmer, who invested in a Forest company that eventually went bankrupt. It spins off to Ballmer not only pouring 50M-into the firm, but accepting the company as a title sponsor of his new Arena, only to see the firm go bankrupt, and its leader indicted on charges of (248M) in investor fraud.
Ballmer denies any knowledge of the side deal the company made with Leonard. He testified to the league he was ‘fleeced’ in the investment and is suing the past owner for damages.
But we find out now the owner introduced his star to the since convicted CEO of the Tree company.
Now we also find out the Clippers vice chairman wrote a check for 2M-cash thru the company given to Leonard, beyond the terms of his contract with the team.
The end result is now a paper trail of salary cap violations
The scary part, Leonard’s uncle-agent, Dennis Robertson, made alot of demands of the Clippers that were beyond the contract awarded the star. And this was the same sales pitch Robertson made while Leonard was with the Toronto Raptors. Both the Clippers and Toronto concluded those were salary cap violations and rejected all the demands.
Now we can theorize Kawhi and his uncle went round the cap to do these side deals, with or without Ballmer’s knowledge.
How does this all tie together with ‘ARTICLE 13-NBA SALARY CAP’?
Written into the CBA are specific penalties that the Clippers-the owner-and the star could face. Among them:
..The Clippers could be fined (7.5M) damages.
..The Clippers could be stripped of 5-first round draft picks
..The Clippers could be charged with (28M) in luxury tax penalties.
..Ballmer could be suspended for 1-full year.
..Leonard’s current (50M) a year deal could be voided
..Leonard could be forced to pay (28M) to a bankruptcy court.
..Leonard could be suspended for 1-year.
Innocent till proven guilty, of-course, but if you connect the dots on all this, from Toronto thru LA, there seems to be quite a trend of the way Kawhi and his handlers conducted their business.
He is a great player, he may be a Hall of Famer, but he is not above the NBA law, and the paper trail uncovered so far, leads you to believe something bad could happen, if he is proven guilty.
It’s right there on paper in ARTICLE 13-CBA.
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