After the shocking report surrounding LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs fans can’t help but laugh. There is certainly no love lost between Spurs fans and Leonard, with Leonard being a former star for San Antonio.
That was before he demanded a trade back in 2019. Since then he has been public enemy number one for Spurs fans who delight in seeing him and his team fell. The Clippers are currently being investigated for alleged cap circumvention, relating to reportedly paying Leonard $48 million in additional salary.
While those are just accusations at this point, if proven true, it would be the latest in a line of questionable goings-on surrounding Leonard. For one, prior to him demanding a trade, there were questions about the severety of an injury that kept him out for almost all of his final season in San Antonio.
The allegations surrounding Kawhi Leonard proves the Spurs right
When he requested a trade from the Spurs, he tried to steer his way to the Los Angeles Lakers before ultimately being traded to the Toronto Raptors. On the Raptors, there were allegations that his uncle Dennis was trying to get teams interested in signing Leonard to offer other perks.
That was never proven, but it doesn’t look good in tandem with Pablo Torre’s reporting. It’s also curious that the amount that he left on the table by leaving the Raptors to join the Clippers is roughly the same amount L.A. is accused of paying Leonard.
Him being paid up to $48 million to endorse a tree-cutting service but never actually endorsing them also doesn’t look great. Look, we all would love to get paid that amount to apparently do nothing. But NBA commissioner Adam Silver may look at that as cap circumvention.
The San Antonio Spurs are finally moving on post-Kawhi Leonard
Had the Spurs done something similar to try and keep Leonard happy, they may have eventually been in the same scenario that L.A. finds itself in now. Ironically, if everything goes well for the Spurs, they could challenge Leonard and the Clippers for a spot in the playoffs next season.
They have burgeoning superstar Victor Wembanyama and star De’Aaron Fox, whom they acquired by using one of the assets received from trading Leonard. The Clippers should also be very good as well after having added depth around Leonard, but long-term they could be far worse off as a result of the Leonard era.
All told, the Spurs and Spurs fans likely feel vindicated after reports of the Clippers allegedly circumventing the salary cap to appease Leonard. We’ll have to see how the situation plays out, but if the NBA finds wrongdoing, the Clippers could be in serious trouble.