While the Clippers, the Raptors and the rest of the NBA await the findings of the investigation into possible salary cap circumvention by Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Thursday in a radio interview that some progress is being made in the case, relays Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“I know that the investigators have presented initial findings, but they’re still making calls and putting things together. But they are having conversations with Ballmer and his lawyers already,” Shelburne told ESPN LA 710. “They’re talking about it. I don’t know if you would call it a settlement or some kind of negotiation, but that’s already happening.”
Shelburne reveals that the talks between Ballmer and investigators haven’t involved anything that would indicate that he deliberately circumvented the cap by finding a way to create extra money for Leonard. She said the sides have been focused on Ballmer’s failure to monitor the situation after making the initial introductions between Leonard and team sponsors.
“The conversations have been more about this failure to supervise and the nature of the introductions that were made between the Clippers and Kawhi’s people rather than direct evidence of salary cap circumvention done by Steve Ballmer,” Shelburne added. “If you’re doing the easy parlance, that would be the murder charge. That’s a really serious charge that’s very hard to prove.”
Although Shelburne doesn’t believe the league will try to tie Ballmer to that “murder charge,” she has suggested that other penalties and sanctions are possible regarding his role in the situation and his failure to directly supervise it.
Any penalties announced after the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz law firm concludes its investigation are expected to be immediately appealed, Siegel states. That could lead to months or even years of litigation before the matter is completely resolved. It has also been reported that the players union could get involved through arbitration if the league decides to unilaterally impose a punishment rather than working out a settlement.
In the meantime, Toronto is waiting to hear if it will be able to complete the pending trade for Leonard that was agreed to on June 30. Shelburne stated that the Clippers would be happy to keep Leonard on their roster if the Raptors ultimately decide to call off the deal.