Re: Around the NBA: Week 18 (2/16 - 2/22)
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:59 pm
A place for fans of the Phoenix Suns
https://www.phx-suns.net/
If you void his contract the Clippers have nothing to trade. That would make him an unrestricted free agent and there would be a feeding frenzy of teams offering him the veteran minimum since salary cap space has pretty much dried up around the league for this season by this point. I don't think Leonard has clean hands though, players know that accepting money on the side in a shady deal is circumventing the cap. I wouldn't have a problem with the league voiding his contract and then suspending him for the remainder of the year (and the clippers get the boom lowered on them like it was on the Timberwolves - huge fine and loss of draft picks).Split T wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 2:54 pmHe obviously knew, but I’m curious what the rules say…it’s the organization that is more to blame for skirting the rules. What obligation does the player have to follow them is my question.
Joe Smith wasn’t suspended when Minny did shady things. Players don’t get punished when teams contact them outside free agency windows(see Drew Eubanks). I just don’t think there’s much precedent to levy a punishment as severe as 1 year suspension. Void the contract if it was signed illegally, but we’re talking about his previous contract that this all happened on. I would support saying he is ineligible to play for the clippers, so essentially suspend him and force LA to trade him. I could even get behind voiding the contract, but that will kinda help LAC to clear space for what is obviously a rebuild coming.
Making ridiculous demands and signing a contract that you know is in violation of the salary cap are two entirely different things though.
Leonard's current deal is based off the bird rights of his previous deal, so it could be justified that way. If you void his contract I dount the CLippers would have any rights to trade since he would be an unrestricted free agent.Split T wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:38 pmThe wolves had how many 1sts stripped for their shenanigans with Joe Smith back in the day? I think it was originally 5, but was cut to 3. I feel like that’s the most likely punishment. Restricting the clippers ability to spend money hurts them, but also hurts the players and there’s no reason to punish players(not named Kawhi). Maybe you restrict the from receiving any luxury tax revenue for a number of years.
They’ve traded a lot of their picks, so I don’t even know how many the league could take away. Can they take away the picks they just traded for? lol
Also, what do you do with Kawhi? I think the clippers organization should take the brunt of the blame, but do you void Kawhi’s deal? The current deal isn’t even the one that had shenanigans attached to it I believe. Can you let his deal stand but make him ineligible to play for the Clippers, essentially forcing them to trade him?
Will be fascinating to see what happens.
Teams would still have to fit rookie contracts under the cap. The players union might be against eliminating the draft and rookie salary scale because it would mean rookie contracts would probably eat up more of the cap, leaving less money for veterans.
I didn’t realize they had so many picks. And ya when I said force them to trade him it would be if they didn’t void the contract…make LAC be on the hook for it, but suspend him from ever playing for the clippers…so they’d have to trade him and really have no leverage in said trade…The Bobster wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:51 pmLeonard's current deal is based off the bird rights of his previous deal, so it could be justified that way. If you void his contract I dount the CLippers would have any rights to trade since he would be an unrestricted free agent.Split T wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:38 pmThe wolves had how many 1sts stripped for their shenanigans with Joe Smith back in the day? I think it was originally 5, but was cut to 3. I feel like that’s the most likely punishment. Restricting the clippers ability to spend money hurts them, but also hurts the players and there’s no reason to punish players(not named Kawhi). Maybe you restrict the from receiving any luxury tax revenue for a number of years.
They’ve traded a lot of their picks, so I don’t even know how many the league could take away. Can they take away the picks they just traded for? lol
Also, what do you do with Kawhi? I think the clippers organization should take the brunt of the blame, but do you void Kawhi’s deal? The current deal isn’t even the one that had shenanigans attached to it I believe. Can you let his deal stand but make him ineligible to play for the Clippers, essentially forcing them to trade him?
Will be fascinating to see what happens.
The Clippers have 1st round picks in 2027, 2029, 2031, 2032,and 2033 so there are plenty to take away as long as the draft still exists.
Also, I think the NBA and Players Association should ban Leonard's uncle from acting as his agent or advisor if they find that he influenced Leonard into signing the contract.
Making them trade him means they get something in return. They should get nothing.Split T wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 6:56 pmI didn’t realize they had so many picks. And ya when I said force them to trade him it would be if they didn’t void the contract…make LAC be on the hook for it, but suspend him from ever playing for the clippers…so they’d have to trade him and really have no leverage in said trade…The Bobster wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:51 pmLeonard's current deal is based off the bird rights of his previous deal, so it could be justified that way. If you void his contract I dount the CLippers would have any rights to trade since he would be an unrestricted free agent.Split T wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:38 pmThe wolves had how many 1sts stripped for their shenanigans with Joe Smith back in the day? I think it was originally 5, but was cut to 3. I feel like that’s the most likely punishment. Restricting the clippers ability to spend money hurts them, but also hurts the players and there’s no reason to punish players(not named Kawhi). Maybe you restrict the from receiving any luxury tax revenue for a number of years.
They’ve traded a lot of their picks, so I don’t even know how many the league could take away. Can they take away the picks they just traded for? lol
Also, what do you do with Kawhi? I think the clippers organization should take the brunt of the blame, but do you void Kawhi’s deal? The current deal isn’t even the one that had shenanigans attached to it I believe. Can you let his deal stand but make him ineligible to play for the Clippers, essentially forcing them to trade him?
Will be fascinating to see what happens.
The Clippers have 1st round picks in 2027, 2029, 2031, 2032,and 2033 so there are plenty to take away as long as the draft still exists.
Also, I think the NBA and Players Association should ban Leonard's uncle from acting as his agent or advisor if they find that he influenced Leonard into signing the contract.
Is this where we learn that his wife is really his aunt?