[Pablo Torre] Steve Balmer paid Kawhi Leonard under the table to avoid salary cap

Why can't they just make Kawhi show up in a lame commercial for like 2 sec (amid other endorsers) and avoid the fraud label altogether? $7mil for 2 sec work is still work, are they too lazy even for that?

 

It doesn't even matter. They have to prove in writing or testimony from someone associated with the company that this was all a way to circumvent the cap. If the company never chose to exercise any option to have Kawhi do promotional work, that's technically the company's prerogative. Doing no work versus doing a 2 second spot is not materially different.

Ultimately offers to promote companies being tied to specific teams isn't new. And while this probably was a fake company designed to circumvent the cap and should be punished, it'll be hard to actually prove. Contracts are written that give the company optionality in how and when promotions are done. If the company just chooses not to do any promotions, that doesn't run afoul of anything.

 

Honestly, this is worse if it holds true. Smith's deal was honestly something that seems reasonable. A promise of a future payday when they could offer it to him (I assume it was in writing though). Not secret payments. Joe Smith was the big loser in that whole ordeal as it cost him millions.

The penalties are primarily set by the CBA. Violating salary cap is $4.5M + 1 1st rounder. Secret agreements have a fine of $7.5M, forfeiture of picks, and suspension of personnel.

I think Kwahi's contract gets voided. Balmer is suspended for one year. They don't control their own pick until 2030, making it harder to punish them via draft penalties, though 2 of those are for pick swaps.

 

So, now I’m wondering if Tilman will get into trouble for handing out 50% off coupons to Joe’s Crab Shack to Rockets players?

 

The NBA must have some rules about this. It's just too easy to get around cap restriction if this kind of thing is allowed.

 

Waiting when will the Warriors Owners and Stephen Curry be exposed for under the table money. Stephen Curry was really underpaid.

 

It's just NIL for NBA players. I hope the league cracks down on this but I am very skeptical. Maybe some employees come out and testify that this was explicitly an attempt to bypass the cap but if no one snitches (or maybe something in writing emerges). Otherwise, I just don't see how they'll get punished.

 

The entire episode is a good watch.

They did have former employees of Aspiration speak up. At least 7 sources, in an at least 6-months long investigation.


The thing with Uncle Dennis, was that when multiple teams was courting Kawhi, it sounded like Unc was asking illegal extras from most/all the suitors. So when Clippers landed Kawhi, multiple teams asked Adam Silver to investigate. The conclusion on the first investigation was they didn't find any concrete proofs, but verbiage of the decision was that Adam had the discretion to re-open the case if new evidence. Pablo's team just dug up a whole batch of new evidence. Silver can't ignore this, and is on the clock to respond.

 

Cheating and not even getting a finals out of it. I think Kawhi's contract get voided and clippers get some massive fines+penalties.

Is Pablo Torre the best sports journalist today?

 

Circumcision of the cap.

@Jontro

 

hawaii lenard should have to play the new blek panther in the upcoming marvel teamup. breh’s stoic demeanor is perfect. or maybe batman in the next dc teamup.

 

The integrity of the league has already been compromised.

See: Flagg to Mavs/ Luka to Lakers

Any number of games ref'ed by Scott Foster.

 

Dive into the thread. Cuban has several more posts.

 

A.I. Adam on the scene.

 

lol that is hilarious. AI Adam Silver looks more human than real Adam Silver

 

I think Kawhi's best defense is to say he actually did a whole bunch of promotional work for the tree planting company but no one noticed or remembered because of how low key he is.

 

30 years ago i was told by a close friend of an nba star that all players were receiving $$$ under the table

 

Kawhi isn't getting another lead movie role after The Creator bombed at the box office. lol