Investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers
Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, addressed the ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers regarding their signing of star player Kawhi Leonard in 2019. Central to this inquiry is a report alleging that Leonard received $28 million for what was described as a “no show job” with Aspiration, a now-defunct company associated with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. This payment raises the potential for the Clippers to have circumvented the league’s salary cap regulations.
Commissioner’s Statement
Following the NBA’s Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday, Silver indicated that before any disciplinary actions could be considered, the league requires definitive proof of wrongdoing. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation of all evidence available, stating,
“If there was the mere appearance of impropriety, I would be hesitant to act.”
The burden of proof, according to Silver, lies firmly with the league as they investigate this situation involving Leonard, his uncle, the Clippers organization, and Ballmer.
This scrutiny is not new; the NBA previously looked into Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, during Leonard’s free agency phase, but found no evidence of wrongdoing at that time. Meanwhile, both Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any implications that the arrangement with Aspiration was intended as a means to bypass existing salary cap rules.
NBA All-Star Game Format Changes
In a separate update, Silver discussed potential modifications to the NBA All-Star Game format aimed at revitalizing interest following a significant decline in viewership, which dropped 13% last season. Silver expressed a desire to adopt a structure similar to the Ryder Cup, which features American teams competing against a World team. Although specific details on how this new format would function in the context of basketball remain unclear, Silver hopes to implement these changes by the start of the upcoming regular season.
Innovative “Heave Rule”
Additionally, the league is considering an innovative “heave rule”. This regulation would allow long-range attempts taken at the end of quarters to be recorded as team shots rather than individual player statistics, alleviating the negative impact of missed desperation shots on players’ averages. This initiative was reported shortly before Silver’s media briefing.
