The Minnesota Timberwolves faced a gigantic penalty for trying to circumvent the salary cap in signing Joe Smith, and the Clippers could be in for even worse after Pablo Torre uncovered a massive Kawhi Leonard scandal. LA’s superstar was being paid $28 million to do nothing for a company that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer backed. It appears to be a way to give Kawhi more money without facing NBA salary cap restrictions. The league served Minnesota harsh punishments and will likely do the same to the Clippers if they are found guilty of what Torre suggests.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been more lenient than David Stern on tampering violations, but this is something bigger. The Wolves forfeited five first-round draft picks, had their owner and general manager suspended, and were forced to pay a $3.5 million fine for signing Smith to three short-term deals before agreeing to give him a massive payout after securing his Bird Rights. Minnesota was trying to build around Kevin Garnett, and went about skirting the rules to make it happen.
The Wolves never reached their potential with KG leading their charge. They made the playoffs eight straight years, but were eliminated in the first round seven times. Minnesota made the conference finals in 2004 in the final year of that run. The Clippers have had similar luck and will likely face a nearly identical fate to the Wolves after this mess is cleaned up.
Kawhi Leonard drama will sink the Clippers like the Joe Smith saga did for Timberwolves
Minnesota missed the playoffs for 13 straight years starting in 2005 and qualified just once in 17 seasons before Anthony Edwards arrived. The Timberwolves' loss of five first-round picks hurt and turned things uglier after Garnett’s departure.
The Clippers face a similar fate. They traded the majority of their draft capital to convince Kawhi Leonard to come to LA. The franchise doesn’t outright own their first-round pick until 2030. That is already a massive problem, given Kawhi is 34 years old and has a lengthy injury history. The Clippers could nosedive quickly and may not have their first-round picks for the next decade if the NBA has its way.
Timberwolves fans know the pain. At least, the Clippers did it with their superstar. Joe Smith was a role player. His biggest accomplishment was being named to the All-Rookie team in 1996. Minnesota lost first-round picks to get 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game over four seasons. It certainly was not worth it.
The Kawhi Leonard drama is just unfolding, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are thankful they are not involved this time. The future is bright with Anthony Edwards leading their charge as the superstar continues to improve. The Wolves have made two straight conference finals appearances and feel on the cusp of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time. Minnesota fans know the Clippers' pain, but they are more focused on the exciting team in front of them moving forward.