Something big is coming for the Los Angeles Clippers, and the entire NBA is bracing for impact.
According to Sam Amick at The Athletic, there's been a "significant upswing in league-wide speculation" that the NBA is about to drop the hammer on the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration scandal.
And here's the kicker: Rival teams believe the league delayed the announcement to avoid ruining All-Star Weekend.
Let me say that again - they allegedly held off on announcing a major punishment to protect the optics of All-Star Weekend. If that's true, it tells you everything you need to know about how big this is going to be.
The Clippers just spent a billion dollars on a new arena. Steve Ballmer threw the party to end all parties. It was supposed to be a celebration of the franchise's future. And now, they might be facing serious punishment from the league office.
What's the punishment going to be? That's the million-dollar question. Or maybe the billion-dollar question, given what's at stake.
Draft picks? That's the usual move for tampering or cap violations. But would the league really strip draft picks from a franchise that's trying to compete with Kawhi Leonard and company?
Fines? Sure, but Ballmer has more money than several small countries. A fine wouldn't move the needle.
Suspensions? Now we're talking. If they suspend executives or decision-makers, that would actually hurt.
The speculation has reached a fever pitch. General managers are talking. Agents are whispering. Everyone in the league is waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Here's what bothers me about the alleged timing: If the NBA really did delay this announcement to protect All-Star Weekend, that's putting . That's saying, 'We know this franchise did something wrong, but let's wait until after the party to punish them.'
