Kawhi Leonard & Steve Ballmer Should Get 1 Year Suspensions After Latest Allegations, Says Stephen A. Smith

Fresh allegations of salary cap circumvention between Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer, and the Los Angeles Clippers have rattled the NBA.

Kawhi Leonard & Steve Ballmer Should Get 1 Year Suspensions After Latest Allegations, Says Stephen A. Smith

Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard, and Stephen A. Smith (Image via Rivari/Hoops PH/X)

There came a time when many thought that the NBA might prefer that the entire Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers, and the salary cap circumvention allegations could quietly disappear from the spotlight.

It will be nearly a year since the allegations first came to light, and the NBA and its third-party investigator have been probing this. However, nothing came to light, and there were rumors that this could extend into 2027.

The league tried to do its part by suspending the proposed trade between the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, leaving all three parties involved in limbo. Then, allegations about a potential secret investment in a soccer club and its stadium came out.

That did not rattle anyone’s cage, and everyone went on with their business. But then, Pablo Torre dropped another bombshell yesterday about a multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal the two-time Finals MVP had with a company that made the halo board for the Intuit Dome.

The stunning part was that this company, Daktronics, does not advertise its products, as it is a B2B enterprise. Therefore, to Torre, this deal screamed salary cap circumvention.

The Clippers are in a world of trouble… This is egregious if it’s true. We are talking about banishment for Steve Ballmer…for at least a year. It should be entertained that Kawhi Leonard should be banned for a year.

Stephen A. Smith said

The ESPN analyst made it clear that even though he has called out Kawhi Leonard for shrugging his duties as a basketball player, there was no way that he was solely responsible for this. Therefore, he expects Ballmer and the Clippers to be punished as well.

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Stephen A. Smith tears into Kawhi Leonard’s attempts at earning money by not working

After his rant on First Take, Stephen A. Smith knew this topic was too hot not to talk about. He took to his namesake show to then unload on Kawhi Leonard.

Adam Silver and Clippers' owner Steve Ballmer
Adam Silver and Clippers’ owner Ballmer (Image via Alex Rozier NBCLA/X)

I have said this before, and I am going to say this again. You want the definition of a masterclass. Kawhi Leonard getting paid without going to work. That brother can give lessons… He’s spectacular with that stuff…. He’s so good at it, I wanna get lessons from him.

Smith said

This was the 58-year-old continuing his earlier rants about how the superstar forward has proven time and again that he can earn money without doing his job. Smith has long labeled Leonard as the ‘worst superstar in the history of sports.’

Smith went on to the extent of mocking the California native, as he felt Leonard can teach classes on how to earn millions of dollars by not working.

So far, those in the mainstream media have not given their opinions about this entire scandal. They covered the story based on how it affects the Clippers, Leonard, and eventually the Toronto Raptors, but never gave their dived into what is right or wrong. Stephen A. Smith is the first to suggest what the NBA should do openly.

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Steve Ballmer might not face repercussions, says Pablo Torre

While Stephen A. Smith touched on how he thinks Clippers owner Steve Ballmer should also face the short end of the stick, others have noted that the billionaire’s money will likely help him avoid any repercussions.

Realistically, in terms of the money and if you follow it, I think there’s a very real chance that Ballmer emerges relatively unscathed, which is kind of insane to me.

Pablo Torre said on The Dan Patrick Show

The investigative journalist believes that since commissioner Adam Silver is the one who brought Ballmer into the NBA, the delay in the current investigation suggests that it is unlikely that the 70-year-old faces any problems.

This means that the Microsoft co-founder could escape punishment even though his team and the seven-time All-Star could end up facing heavy reprimands.

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