The summer has been quiet for the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. NBA fans have watched as headlines zero in on an investigation that could reshape how teams chase big-name stars and how much those stars can really earn.
Is this just another case of teams bending the rules, or is something bigger at play here? With legends like Tim Hardaway weighing in and memories of past controversies resurfacing, nobody wants to miss what happens next.
How Did Tim Hardaway React to the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers Investigation?
The NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard has dominated headlines this summer. Allegations suggest that the Clippers’ billionaire owner, Steve Ballmer, may have helped Leonard secure almost $50 million in questionable endorsement deals. This situation has led to growing scrutiny over the league’s salary cap rules and whether they were sidestepped.
Amid all the talk, Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway stepped forward with a blunt take. He recalled a moment from the 1990s when a legendary coach allegedly pushed the limits of the rules.
In an interview with Action Network, Hardaway was open about his opinion on the Clippers’ scandal. “Hey, if you can do it, you can do it! If you get away with it, you get away with it. But I tell you this, where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” he said.
Hardaway made it clear that if something illegal is happening, the league will uncover it. “If the NBA thinks that you are wrong about doing stuff like that, they’re gonna get you, they’re gonna get you,” he continued. While he admitted he didn’t know every detail, Hardaway pointed out that similar under-the-table practices have circled around the league for decades.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Adam Silver has promised a full review by an independent law firm. He also emphasized that cap circumvention is a “cardinal sin” in NBA operations.
What Did the 1996 Pat Riley Controversy Show About NBA Salary Cap Moves?
To back up his point, Hardaway recalled 1996, when then-Miami Heat coach and team president Pat Riley, a six-time NBA champion as a coach and executive, was accused of pushing the envelope on massive contracts.
“I’m gonna tell you this. Pat Riley tried to pay two people $20 million. Over $20 million a year,” Hardaway said. “They were like, ‘How the hell are you doing that? And you got these other guys you’re going to pay. You can’t do that!’ They were talking about suspending him for the whole year.”
The Heat made a move for star forward Juwan Howard with a seven-year, $101 million deal during that time, but the NBA later voided it. Riley, though, maintained that Miami played by the book and publicly attacked the league for moving the goalposts in the middle of negotiations.
“We never broke the rules. We played within the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. The only people who broke the rules were the NBA, because they changed the rules as they went along,” Riley said during a conference call after the deal fell apart.
Although Riley escaped suspension, the whole episode is one of the league’s biggest salary cap controversies. This history supports Hardaway’s belief that hidden deals have always been a part of the NBA game.
What Consequences Could the Clippers Face According to Hardaway?
Hardaway’s straight-shooting assessment ties the Clippers’ current problems to a much deeper league history of teams using whatever means they can to hold on to star players.
He supported players fighting to maximize their earnings, citing the careers of Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins, who both saw injuries suddenly end major paydays. However, he clarified that if the current Clippers are found guilty, things could get “real ugly.”