NBA Kawitters Legacy taking another hit

[Neuromancer]

Guessing since he's an investigative journalist named Pablo Torre, I'ma guess that PTFO means Pablo Torre Finds Out or something like that

 

[NASpurs]

I just read and didn't realize until it was mentioned that the Clippers organization has been investigated four times because of Kawhi.

 

[Lefty20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1963958376703865251

 

[024]

Where Timvp at? Didn't he allude that he had some inside knowledge on what went down between Kawhi and the Spurs? Pretty sure asking for outside the cap compensation was the thing. Timvp should be taking a victory lap instead of trying to find the missing hamster powering his servers.

 

[Exstatic]

Forget forfeiting the pick, award it to the Spurs for tampering.

 

[ginobilized]

The plot continues to thicken, unsurprisingly.

I watched most of Pablo Torres discussion with Mark Cuban yesterday. Fascinating. Cuban had the take that Ballmer likely did not know the exact details of what was happening between Aspiration and Kawhi. It will be very difficult to connect Ballmer or the Clippers FO to this as it was between Uncle Dennis and Aspiration. Cuban did say that if Ballmer or Frank knew about this they are toast and the penalty should far outweigh the Joe Smith outcome. Torres seems like he's got all the evidence and it's the biggest story of his life and has that "gotcha" energy, but, feels like he is in over his head a bit. There was a bunch of heated discourse and Cuban did a good job of making the owner's perspective clear.

Hopefully, the NBA's investigation can trace the path back to the Clippers FO. Going after the 6th or 7th richest man in the world seems like a lofty task. If Kawhi's time hiding in closets with the Spurs can be connected through Shelton's lawsuit, there might be some long-awaited validation, if not compensation, for the Uncle Dennis non-registered agent fiascos.

Funny note: I sat between Kent Alterman (director of Semi-Pro) and Mitch Frankel (Kawhi's agent) at Game 5 of the Finals in 2014. I had great exchanges with them and Kent even sent me a signed copy of Semi-Pro, he's an SA native, btw. Cuban mentioned in the interview/debate that Mitch Frankel would have the answers to everything. Glad I'm not him right now.

 

[LeBowen]

Ballmer is claiming that him investing 50 million, of which 48 ended up in his star player's account, was just a scam?
I understand rich people can get away with anything, but come on.

 

[Maddog]

If the contract is voided it may be tricky for him to recoup it.
Someone with more cap knowledge than I can answer this but if his salary is voided, what can the clipps resign him at?

 

[Neuromancer]

If the contract is voided it may be tricky for him to recoup it.
Someone with more cap knowledge than I can answer this but if his salary is voided, what can the clipps resign him at?

I could be wrong but I feel like if the NBA actually voided his contract - a pretty stiff punishment - they wouldn't allow the Clippers to re-sign him

 

[LeBowen]

I could be wrong but I feel like if the NBA actually voided his contract - a pretty stiff punishment - they wouldn't allow the Clippers to re-sign him

Nephew would just go to China and take an even bigger bag.

 

[Exstatic]

The plot continues to thicken, unsurprisingly.

I watched most of Pablo Torres discussion with Mark Cuban yesterday. Fascinating. Cuban had the take that Ballmer likely did not know the exact details of what was happening between Aspiration and Kawhi. It will be very difficult to connect Ballmer or the Clippers FO to this as it was between Uncle Dennis and Aspiration. Cuban did say that if Ballmer or Frank knew about this they are toast and the penalty should far outweigh the Joe Smith outcome. Torres seems like he's got all the evidence and it's the biggest story of his life and has that "gotcha" energy, but, feels like he is in over his head a bit. There was a bunch of heated discourse and Cuban did a good job of making the owner's perspective clear.

Hopefully, the NBA's investigation can trace the path back to the Clippers FO. Going after the 6th or 7th richest man in the world seems like a lofty task. If Kawhi's time hiding in closets with the Spurs can be connected through Shelton's lawsuit, there might be some long-awaited validation, if not compensation, for the Uncle Dennis non-registered agent fiascos.

Funny note: I sat between Kent Alterman (director of Semi-Pro) and Mitch Frankel (Kawhi's agent) at Game 5 of the Finals in 2014. I had great exchanges with them and Kent even sent me a signed copy of Semi-Pro, he's an SA native, btw. Cuban mentioned in the interview/debate that Mitch Frankel would have the answers to everything. Glad I'm not him right now.

Ballmer 100% funded the company, alone, at $50, slightly more than the $48 payola to Kawhi. There’s no way he’s ignorant of what was going on.

 

[The Truth #6]

Voiding Kawhi's contract could help the Clippers in some ways to move on from his ridiculous contract, but few draft picks left iirc, so they would need a FA to sign there. Doesn't seem crazy given Ballmer's deep pockets. It's interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[Correct Crusader]

Hope Adam hits them hard for this shit.

 

[BacktoBasics]

Circumventing 48 million should be a lifetime ban.

Can’t wager on your own team for any dollar amount. Bypassing the cap and CBA seems way worse.

I’ll settle for a one year suspension.

Travesty if they simply grant him FA.

 

[Exstatic]

Void the contract, suspend KL for a year, and split that $48M cheating amount over the next two seasons as a cap and tax hit.

 

[Maddog]

Voiding Kawhi's contract could help the Clippers in some ways to move on from his ridiculous contract, but few draft picks left iirc, so they would need a FA to sign there. Doesn't seem crazy given Ballmer's deep pockets. It's interesting to see how this plays out.

If, IF this happens and they loose a pick and contract is voided they'll have a hard time recovering. As is they don't control a 1st until 2030
It looks pretty cut and dried- but we'll see

 

[The Truth #6]

If, IF this happens and they loose a pick and contract is voided they'll have a hard time recovering. As is they don't control a 1st until 2030
It looks pretty cut and dried- but we'll see

I guess I was just wondering how his billionaire status and deep pockets will save them to some degree or another. I I forgot about the penalties when you go too far into the tax, so yeah maybe never mind.

 

[ginobilized]

First off, I agree that Ballmer's contributions and the way this has unfolded look so clearly guilty of circumventing the cap with a shady deal.

I'm fascinated to see what this investigation uncovers. It seems a stretch to assume that there is a paper/email or other trail linking Ballmer or the Clippers to the $48m that Kawhi received. There are also many other illegal possibilities that could emerge from this deep dive. The tampering allegations dating back to the Spurs time are probably not within the scope of the investigation, but, wouldn't that be validating if they were?

One point that Cuban made was that if he were in that situation and knew what was happening, he would've kept Aspiration afloat with his own money so that none of this ever sees the light of day. Because Ballmer didn't do that, he assumes that Ballmer was scammed. Business-wise Cuban said that's the only option for an owner doing something like that. If Ballmer knew what was happening and allowed Aspiration to die an ignoble death, that's a reckless and stupid mistake. His conclusion was that Aspiration scammed Ballmer and Uncle Dennis scammed aspiration. What a mess!

I'm not sure how these investigations work, but, if all parties are getting interviewed, I'd imagine there will be a wide range of stories offered and some shitting of bricks. Ballmer, Kawhi, & the Clippers FO all have so much to lose. Uncle Dennis seems like a rogue element here and harder to measure, but, it would be awesome for him to receive a harsh penalty, too.

 

[BacktoBasics]

First off, I agree that Ballmer's contributions and the way this has unfolded look so clearly guilty of circumventing the cap with a shady deal.

I'm fascinated to see what this investigation uncovers. It seems a stretch to assume that there is a paper/email or other trail linking Ballmer or the Clippers to the $48m that Kawhi received. There are also many other illegal possibilities that could emerge from this deep dive. The tampering allegations dating back to the Spurs time are probably not within the scope of the investigation, but, wouldn't that be validating if they were?

One point that Cuban made was that if he were in that situation and knew what was happening, he would've kept Aspiration afloat with his own money so that none of this ever sees the light of day. Because Ballmer didn't do that, he assumes that Ballmer was scammed. Business-wise Cuban said that's the only option for an owner doing something like that. If Ballmer knew what was happening and allowed Aspiration to die an ignoble death, that's a reckless and stupid mistake. His conclusion was that Aspiration scammed Ballmer and Uncle Dennis scammed aspiration. What a mess!

I'm not sure how these investigations work, but, if all parties are getting interviewed, I'd imagine there will be a wide range of stories offered and some shitting of bricks. Ballmer, Kawhi, & the Clippers FO all have so much to lose. Uncle Dennis seems like a rogue element here and harder to measure, but, it would be awesome for him to receive a harsh penalty, too.

Cuban makes a fair point. I think that concept would carry weight if the business was more recognizable or mainstream. Keeping up the lie would make sense.

But the transaction happened some time back. No one batted an eye.

Letting the company disappear and wiping away any evidence with it was probably the best decision in the moment.

If it wasn’t for these pesky kids.

 

[scott]

First off, I agree that Ballmer's contributions and the way this has unfolded look so clearly guilty of circumventing the cap with a shady deal.

I'm fascinated to see what this investigation uncovers. It seems a stretch to assume that there is a paper/email or other trail linking Ballmer or the Clippers to the $48m that Kawhi received. There are also many other illegal possibilities that could emerge from this deep dive. The tampering allegations dating back to the Spurs time are probably not within the scope of the investigation, but, wouldn't that be validating if they were?

One point that Cuban made was that if he were in that situation and knew what was happening, he would've kept Aspiration afloat with his own money so that none of this ever sees the light of day. Because Ballmer didn't do that, he assumes that Ballmer was scammed. Business-wise Cuban said that's the only option for an owner doing something like that. If Ballmer knew what was happening and allowed Aspiration to die an ignoble death, that's a reckless and stupid mistake. His conclusion was that Aspiration scammed Ballmer and Uncle Dennis scammed aspiration. What a mess!

I'm not sure how these investigations work, but, if all parties are getting interviewed, I'd imagine there will be a wide range of stories offered and some shitting of bricks. Ballmer, Kawhi, & the Clippers FO all have so much to lose. Uncle Dennis seems like a rogue element here and harder to measure, but, it would be awesome for him to receive a harsh penalty, too.

The ol' classic "the rich guy didn't do it because there's no way he'd do it this stupidly" defense is one of my favorites

 

[Kermit]

The ol' classic "the rich guy didn't do it because there's no way he'd do it this stupidly" defense is one of my favorites

I know it’s been mentioned here, but it’s likely that Cuban’s defense of Ballmer is because he’s guilty of the same cap circumvention with Dirk.

 

[Corso]

First off, I agree that Ballmer's contributions and the way this has unfolded look so clearly guilty of circumventing the cap with a shady deal.

I'm fascinated to see what this investigation uncovers. It seems a stretch to assume that there is a paper/email or other trail linking Ballmer or the Clippers to the $48m that Kawhi received. There are also many other illegal possibilities that could emerge from this deep dive. The tampering allegations dating back to the Spurs time are probably not within the scope of the investigation, but, wouldn't that be validating if they were?

One point that Cuban made was that if he were in that situation and knew what was happening, he would've kept Aspiration afloat with his own money so that none of this ever sees the light of day. Because Ballmer didn't do that, he assumes that Ballmer was scammed. Business-wise Cuban said that's the only option for an owner doing something like that. If Ballmer knew what was happening and allowed Aspiration to die an ignoble death, that's a reckless and stupid mistake. His conclusion was that Aspiration scammed Ballmer and Uncle Dennis scammed aspiration. What a mess!

I'm not sure how these investigations work, but, if all parties are getting interviewed, I'd imagine there will be a wide range of stories offered and some shitting of bricks. Ballmer, Kawhi, & the Clippers FO all have so much to lose. Uncle Dennis seems like a rogue element here and harder to measure, but, it would be awesome for him to receive a harsh penalty, too.

Is there even an official investigation?

Looks to me like some guy did some digging and found some incriminating shit, but no official action has been set in motion, or is there any movement on that front yet.

 

[Exstatic]

Is there even an official investigation?

Looks to me like some guy did some digging and found some incriminating shit, but no official action has been set in motion, or is there any movement on that front yet.

I’m thinking owners who may have been shorted on luxury tax distributions may insist. That $48M would have been multiplied 2Xor3X and distributed to probably 8-10 teams.

 

[Corso]

I’m thinking owners who may have been shorted on luxury tax distributions may insist. That $48M would have been multiplied 2Xor3X and distributed to probably 8-10 teams.

May, would, could... I guess I'll wait until action happens.

If any.

 

[Maddog]

Is there even an official investigation?

Looks to me like some guy did some digging and found some incriminating shit, but no official action has been set in motion, or is there any movement on that front yet.

yes

NBA hires law firm to investigate Kawhi Leonard, Clippers cap circumvention allegations: Source

The NBA tapped the same law firm that investigated Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver to look into allegations against the Clippers, Leonard.

www.nytimes.com

They've (NBA) hired the firm they previously engaged to investigate Sterling and Saver