Draymond Green Calls for Abolishing Salary Cap After Latest Allegations Against Kawhi Leonard

The past year has been full of mixed feelings for Kawhi Leonard. He and the Los Angeles Clippers have been accused of having several undisclosed sponsorship deals to circumvent the salary cap.

However, despite all the noise, Leonard had his best offensive season and was healthy for most of the 2025-26 campaign. Unfortunately, his performances didn’t translate into results, as the Clippers finished ninth in the Western Conference standings and were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament.

Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019 after winning his second title with the Toronto Raptors. It was supposed to mark a new era for the franchise, but nothing worked out in the end. To make matters worse, all the scandals and investigations have further tarnished the player and the organization.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green believes that the NBA needs to take strict action, as it sets a bad precedent.

If the punishments aren’t steep, everybody should do it, if it’s just gonna be a slap on the wrist, then everybody should do it and every player should be trying to do it. I think this raises the question about the salary cap, we’re playing in a league where a team just sold for $12.5 billion. Let the punishment be getting rid of the salary cap.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

Draymond reacts to Kawhi Leonard's latest hidden sponsorship deal with Daktronics

"If the punishments aren't steep, everybody should do it, if it's just gonna be a slap on the wrist, then everybody should do it and every player should be trying to do it… I think this raises… pic.twitter.com/Z8nAtZYuzE

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) August 13, 2026

Green has completed 14 seasons in the NBA and has seen it all. The four-time champion is often regarded as a vocal figure and is known to always speak in support of the players. However, even Green agreed that a light punishment for Kawhi Leonard could embolden other teams and players to employ similar methods of avoiding the salary cap.

While Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had denied the allegations before the 2025-26 campaign got underway, things have only gotten worse as investigations continued. Recent findings revealed that Leonard even secured an undisclosed multimillion-dollar sponsorship with Daktronics. The NBA world is eagerly waiting to see what decision the league takes after its investigation.

Fans react to Draymond Green calling for abolishment of the salary cap

The Aspiration sponsorship deal and the recent Daktronics deal have raised further questions about Leonard and the Clippers. The Clippers even traded the two-time champion to the Raptors last month, but the move has been put on hold till the NBA finishes its investigation.

Green’s calls to scrap the salary cap saw a number of reactions across social media from NBA fans.

No way ! Because teams like Miami , L.A and New York would get all the players because they rather play there then anywhere else .

— lee powell (@ThePowWow1) August 14, 2026

I disagree. I think that hurts small markets. It’s gonna turn into baseball. We only have four good teams every year. I personally think getting rid of the salary cap will get rid of the integrity of the game.

— jon guerra (@jonguerra197182) August 13, 2026

Remove the salary cap but keep a luxury tax system in place. If owners wanna spend go for it, but make em pay for it through the tax.

— Brian Mitchell (@JMUBrianMitch) August 13, 2026

The league would be a whole lot better if no salary cap existed. Who the f** wants to watch OKC/IND finals again, no one

You got owners taking advantage by rationalizing to pay players under market value because there’s no more cap space

— James (@LakeShowSwish24) August 13, 2026

If NBA removed salary cap, it would look like MLB where only 3 teams are vying for championship each year. Right now the wealthiest team is GSW but that’s 100% only because Steph is the biggest draw since Jordan. But big market teams like LAL / NYK would dominate every year.

— justfax (@justfax15) August 13, 2026

If you want to have a discussion about the salary cap, fine. Have one. But what Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard did is flat out cheating! THEY ARE CHEATERS! 😡

— Greg Solon (@gregsolon) August 14, 2026

Facts, extremely well said, someone holding some else accountable!

— troel hurtz (@Agott123) August 13, 2026

According to Draymond, the solution is simple: remove the cap, let the richest teams buy every star, and turn the rest of the league into glorified sparring partners. What could possibly go wrong?

— Guyman (@real_manguy) August 13, 2026

Several fans agreed with Green on taking strict action against Leonard and the Clippers. However, his calls to scrap the salary cap received mixed responses from the fans.

Draymond Green wants the NBA to follow MLB’s lead

When Draymond Green spoke about the team that got sold for $12.5 billion, he was talking about the recent sale of the Los Angeles Lakers. Josh Kushner and Bob Iger bought the franchise from Mark Walter, who bought the team for $10 billion just a year ago.

Given that the value of the team is rising exponentially with every passing year, Green suggested that the NBA might follow Major League Baseball’s lead.

There’s no salary cap in baseball. League operates just fine. Players that deserve the bulk of the money, get the bulk of the money. Players that don’t, don’t. Simple.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

MLB is the only North American sports league without a salary cap. The salary cap has pros and cons. Without a salary cap, big stars can earn much more than they do now; however, it puts small-market teams at a huge disadvantage and risks big-market franchises stacking their teams.

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