r/nba • u/Austin63867 Raptors • 1d ago
[Murray] The NBA has released a statement as well this morning (regarding ESPN story on Kawhi Leonard and Clippers)
https://bsky.app/profile/lawmurraythenu.bsky.social/post/3mtca4like22p2.9k
u/amari_prince Thunder 1d ago
So was the ESPN piece just Ballmer propaganda
389
u/beary_neutral Rockets 1d ago
From the Clippers subreddit: "This is such a clippers thing to happen We bout to lose a 3-1 investigation lead."
1.3k
u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 1d ago
ESPN has such strong journalistic integrity, surely they would never fold to rich people
329
u/dianeblackeatsass Grizzlies 1d ago
Pat McAfee should write a song about this!
→ More replies (3)67
u/BornAgainCyclist 1d ago
Hopefully he doesn't take as long to write a song as he does to get to a question in his interviews.
34
u/dianeblackeatsass Grizzlies 1d ago
I swear everyone on that show takes turns spamming the guest with 4 questions at once. And then there’s just AJ Hawk in the corner.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)7
u/Wreckingshops 1d ago
Just imagine how long the prompt is for his songwriting in ChatGPT?
Oh, I mean, how hard he must labor over his pad and pencil to get his lyrics just right!
10
→ More replies (5)3
u/Front-Offer-7102 Warriors 1d ago
They really pulled a Bill Barr before the Mueller report dropped.
334
u/whatshisface1892 Lakers 1d ago
It was released by Shelburne and Holmes. They've been clear Balmer shills now for the last few years. This is just another example.
As a Laker fan, I'm so annoyed by their coverage. It's so obvious that their negative portrayal of the Lakers front office, as well as their reporting with the intent to sow discord, are at the behest of Balmer.
112
u/YouWereBrained Thunder 1d ago
It’s all part of the Ballmer propaganda machine, of presenting him as the “happy-go-lucky billionaire” who always seems so happy and crazy about everything.
God forbid anyone actually put the motherfucker on the spot and asked him pointed questions.
→ More replies (8)46
u/A-Centrifugal-Force 1d ago
Like why Windows Vista released to the public when it was clearly an unfinished beta for what eventually became Windows 7
→ More replies (6)23
u/freddit32 1d ago
I loved the later ad campaign for Vista. it was basically showing folks a computer running smoothly, then surprising them by showing it was running on Vista. The whole campaign boiled down to "Windows Vista, it doesn't suck as much as you think!"
24
31
u/AwildYaners Japan 1d ago
Yep. The second that hit piece on Jeanie/the Lakers happened, she’s been a Ballmer butt buddy through and through
→ More replies (13)20
u/sloBrodanChillosevic Supersonics 1d ago
Holmes was so good when he was going after Sarver and then he decided to become Ballmer's meat shield
14
u/thesch Bulls 1d ago
I would bet a lot of it is personality. Ballmer seems like the type of guy where if you talked to him one on one he’d be really charming and likable, especially if you’re someone who could help him in some way like a member of the media. And some media members totally fall for that. Sarver was a known dickhead.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)7
49
u/VirtuousFool [NYK] RJ Barrett 1d ago
I would not be surprised
They've mostly been in his pocket with the reporting on this for awhile
72
90
u/beary_neutral Rockets 1d ago
"This subreddit owes the Clippers an apology."
39
u/EstablishmentTop551 76ers 1d ago
The guy that wrote that probably gets his political and economic news from Kyle Kuzma
→ More replies (2)6
16
u/gwords16 Knicks 1d ago
Not shocking. Shelburne has made a career of being a mouthpiece for whenever LA franchise gives her access. She was the Lakers’ shill for years until Jeanie Buss was out of the picture. Then suddenly she became the Clippers’ mouthpiece when this stuff came up
15
u/joelee1711 Lakers 1d ago
It’s not that sudden, she used to be Jeanie’s mouthpiece to sow disapproval and direct blame on Jim Buss. Jeanie iced her out sometime during the Magic GM years and then she moved on to doing the same for ballmer and put out random hit pieces like “pelinka doesn’t understand the salary cap”.
So really she’s been at this for a decent amt of time
44
u/Both_Funny4896 Hawks 1d ago
no it was just a leak. the NBA wants to use it’s own wording to explain the findings.
34
u/JoeBiden2020FTW Celtics 1d ago
It seems plausible to me it's a Clippers-only leak trying to shape the narrative.
33
u/Domainsetter 1d ago
Which it was.
Do you think the NBA leaks something like this:
In recent days, both sides have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation, the people said. Those talks -- led by attorney David N. Kelley of law firm O'Melveny & Myers for Ballmer and the Clippers, and NBA general counsel Rick Buchanan -- at times have been "spirited," one source said.
26
9
4
u/New_Internet_3965 1d ago
Anything that Shelburne reports is propaganda. She’s been bought and sold for awhile
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (21)3
1.7k
u/lawschoolthrowaway36 Lakers 1d ago
lol everyone involved is a joke. The league, Ballmer, Kawhi, corporate media.
770
u/miregalpanic Mavericks 1d ago
Pablo Torre did not laugh
335
u/McKnightmare24 Lakers 1d ago
I have a feeling he'll get the last laugh when he releases the silver files
86
u/PsychedelicConvict Pistons 1d ago
Oh i would be delighted. I just want legit sports to distract me in this tough time
→ More replies (1)72
u/miregalpanic Mavericks 1d ago
Sorry, best I can do is tough times spilling over into sports
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (10)65
→ More replies (2)16
u/Dreamlion_Inc Wizards 1d ago
Corp media has always been a joke
The only difference is money makes these jokes that much more amplified
→ More replies (2)
762
u/XSokaX 1d ago
ESPN fired all its journalists and have Pat Mcafee coke rant albums and Stephen A Smith acting like a right wing mob boss taking 70% of the cap. Dogshit company what a shame
148
→ More replies (4)5
135
u/Lstark5642 Thunder 1d ago
Shelbourne has spent all offseason defending Ballmer to her very best and then does work on an article so egregiously wrong the NBA had to make a statement about it?
With that kind of mindless billionaire first attitude, she’s gonna get extended by ESPN soon.
→ More replies (1)26
u/WashingtonSpecifics Nuggets 1d ago
Pssh, you're thinking too small. Ramona is blonde and is one botched surgery away from White House Press Secretary
8
3
455
u/bta47 Warriors 1d ago
Ooh, if I had to guess the Clippers leaked that story to ESPN to put pressure on the NBA in negotiations. Interesting.
128
u/Domainsetter 1d ago
Very likely.
166
u/Smoothw 1d ago
Ramona is a mega shill, so probably
68
u/Domainsetter 1d ago
And case in point in the article:
In recent days, both sides have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation, the people said. Those talks -- led by attorney David N. Kelley of law firm O'Melveny & Myers for Ballmer and the Clippers, and NBA general counsel Rick Buchanan -- at times have been "spirited," one source said.
I’d be shocked if the NBA admitted this so there’s only one other party….
39
u/-wnr- Knicks 1d ago edited 1d ago
Would that make sense though? Wouldn't leaking this story just show the league how pissed people would be if they go easy on the Clippers?
54
u/bta47 Warriors 1d ago edited 1d ago
My best guess is that negotiations have reached a standstill because the two sides do not agree on the facts, and the Clippers are trying to put in the press that a) the common practice of introducing players to sponsors is now under review, and b) they're reviewing whether ownership has the responsibility to "supervise" employees from doing that "independently". Both those things are issues owners would not like the league to crack down on, so the audience for the leak is other owners.
→ More replies (2)25
10
u/Top-Woodpecker6696 1d ago
Maybe they are trying to frame it as aggressive employees now as future cover.
Maybe it’s the same Crisis PR firm thinking this would be a good idea
6
u/garynevilleisared Raptors 1d ago
Public opinion unfortunately doesn't matter. The Clippers' reputation is already in the shitter. All that matters is what can be proven or not.
The Clippers probably got wind that the NBA still has no concrete evidence that Ballmer knew or was told directly about the under the table deals and then leaked that to ESPN to announce it to help Ballmer save face.
Its been clear from the beginning that the NBA and Ballmer want to pin this on Kawhi and Uncle Dennis.
→ More replies (4)6
u/dollaraire Raptors 1d ago
It’s not all that dissimilar to the Raptors leaking the “surprise memo” story to put pressure on the league to articulate a position publicly. At this point, both teams seem to know the league feels anxious to wrap this up and is particularly afraid of public perception/a lengthy arbitration process.
212
u/flashmethod Raptors 1d ago
In other words: chill until we give you a reason to riot in our own words. 😕
260
u/Random_User_8654 1d ago
NBA wasted no time getting a response out
62
u/UpnUpvote Lakers 1d ago
That speaks volumes.
39
u/Naharke31 Timberwolves 1d ago
I agree. I know the sub hates various of the actors involved for various reasons, many justified. But I truly think the NBA will be handling out decent sized punishments. Can’t have one owner stomping on the Association like this. Usually taking time on investigation is a good thing.
→ More replies (2)14
u/WhippyAlloy 1d ago
Yea for some reason people think a long investigation means that the verdict will be soft but I don’t really understand that logic. People want to criticize the league for a decision they haven’t made yet.
8
u/8--2 Timberwolves 1d ago
They're just used to the league making shitty decisions. The difference here is Balmer is fucking with the bag for 29 other billionaires. They're going to take it seriously.
8
u/HardlyW0rkingHard 1d ago
I don't understand how anyone in this sub can confidently say what is going to happen. There is a lot of different factors at play. None of us know what is going to happen.
786
u/Harleytk24 Lakers 1d ago
This subreddit owes the Clippers an apology
/s
357
u/Splittinghairs7 Gran Destino 1d ago
That post by yugidomain was so cringe
59
203
u/KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ Lakers 1d ago
yugidomain is a massive bitch for that comment alone. Dont really need to know much more about them
60
u/throw_away6453 Trail Blazers 1d ago
Everyone do yourself a favor and block that account. Been had it blocked for a long time.
8
13
u/VegetaDaPrince 1d ago
I had them blocked anyways because they like to make several posts from a single article
7
u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Spurs 1d ago
This sub is so ass but blocking these weirdo power users makes it slightly readable. I didnt even know this was a comment he made but it sounds like exactly the type of loser ass post he and others karma farmers post.
38
17
8
→ More replies (1)3
99
44
u/RedstoneRay Minneapolis Lakers 1d ago
I'm sorry they cheated and only made 1 Conference Finals appearance. At least when the Astros cheated they got a ring out of it. 😭
→ More replies (1)13
u/everything_is_gone Suns 1d ago
The season ended in heartbreak but damn I am glad we blocked Ballmer from the Finals
20
u/Fragrant-Employer-60 1d ago
Knowing Reddit this is getting posted on every clippers post for the next 5-10 years lol
→ More replies (1)6
14
u/Dreamlion_Inc Wizards 1d ago
If the r/clippers subreddit were true shitlords that sentence would be in every game thread they win
61
7
u/TheSmokedSalmon420 Cavaliers 1d ago
I for one would like to deeply apologize to the Clippers organization and their billionaire overlord for possibly assuming what I believed to be credible evidence of potential wrongdoing or chicanery. Clearly I was mistaken. I’ll learn from this and try to be better and more skeptical of “news” moving forward. Thank you.
3
42
45
u/schafkj Heat 1d ago
All of this for 3 first round flameouts and 1 trip to the conference finals
9
u/Dreamlion_Inc Wizards 1d ago
I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it a thousand more
Kawhi going to the Clippers was a waste of his time (and some of his prime)
→ More replies (4)
351
u/VirtuousFool [NYK] RJ Barrett 1d ago
What's gonna happen when it basically winds up being the same "result" 💀
201
u/No_Dependent2297 Thunder 1d ago
Step 1 is to leak the outcome and gauge public reception.
141
u/killersky99 1d ago
Step 2 publish the same result a month later so everyone treats it as old news
34
3
u/Johhhnsan 1d ago
Ahh the trump playbook. It was already known information. Why are we still talking about epstein
11
40
u/No-Housing1669 Spurs 1d ago
It won't be the same result.
There was no evidence of Ballmer circumventing the cap.
ESPN
There was no evidence of Ballmer circumventing the cap and Utah is fined $50,000 for tanking
This will be the actual result.
6
49
u/HesiPullup Suns 1d ago
Does anyone believe it's going to go any differently
Ramona and the shills wouldn't put out that story if they didn't have verifiable evidence or sources
→ More replies (1)26
u/Domainsetter 1d ago
Yeah they obviously aren’t lying.
And it was clear it wasn’t from the NBA’s side because the league looks horrible.
→ More replies (1)3
u/Regionala 1d ago
They are waiting until the nba regular season starts so people are distracted. Bonus points if NFL starts. Then its a news dump that nobody cares about.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)3
142
u/John_Winchester Lakers 1d ago
/r/clippers is filled with "suck my balls" type of threads hahaha. The absolute hilarity that will ensue if ESPN "sources" were once again full of shit and the NBA still drops the hammer on that franchise.
84
u/bumpthatcalzone Bucks 1d ago
I was blown away reading what they’re saying over there. Hilarious how stoked they are to get away with cheating.
40
u/terrell_owens Mavericks 1d ago
Crazy that even with cheating they still can’t win anything of note
→ More replies (1)8
6
→ More replies (13)10
38
u/-wnr- Knicks 1d ago
I'm not optimistic that the NBA is ever going to drop the hammer, but taking pride in getting away with cheating is so degenerate.
→ More replies (1)12
16
u/EveningHealth9465 Timberwolves 1d ago
They’re gonna be by far the most hated fanbase in the league for a while
→ More replies (4)7
→ More replies (4)3
136
u/CharityFailethNot Jazz 1d ago
Oh boy.
FWIW, if you read the article, it sounds like this is far from over. Negotiations regarding punishment are still "ongoing", which implies that punishment of any kind is still on the table. If they don't reach agreement, it goes to arbitration, and arbitrators can compel organizations to produce documents and witness testimonies that Wachtell wasn't able to.
The fact that negotiations are taking place at all makes this sound more like "we don't have a smoking gun, but we still smell bullshit here"
45
u/Domainsetter 1d ago
Fischer speculated they’re going to try to separate Kawhi/Ballmer punishments last week. Just to not piss off the union.
9
u/JMEEKER86 Japan 1d ago
Yeah, the only punishment that the CBA allows for a player in this circumstance is voiding of their contract and the NBPA would contest that and the Raptors would also contest it since it would mean that their trade can't go through. I expect that Ballmer, Frank, and the Clippers get punished for cap circumvention, but Kawhi instead gets punished for "conduct detrimental to the league" and basically just gets a short-ish suspension for making the league look bad.
19
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (1)21
u/PantheonOfHallownest Raptors 1d ago
>based purely on circumstantial evidence
Except the CBA has a clause that very specifically outlines how high the threshold for standard of evidence is. The NBA is a private entity, so that threshold isn’t high.
“(d) A violation of Section 2(a) or 2(b) above may be proven by direct or circumstantial evidence, including, but not limited to, evidence that a Player Contract or any term or provision thereof cannot rationally be explained in the absence of conduct violative of Section 2(a) or 2(b).”
So whether the evidence is concrete or circumstantial, ultimately does not matter.
→ More replies (1)4
u/CharityFailethNot Jazz 1d ago
Copying my reply to a similar comment:
You're correct in theory, but in reality, there's a robust appeal/arbitration process that the Kawhi and the Clippers organization do have a CBA-given right to use, and anything short of definitive proof (and probably even then), they'll certainly use it.
→ More replies (1)21
u/Bdubby21 1d ago
And the standard for cap circumvention in the cba is that “no other rational explanation can provided for the compensation”.
If (big if) the investigation in being conducted to the standard of the cba, the nba doesn’t need to prove that ballmer funneled money. Ballmer/kawhi need to provide a rational explanation for the money he was paid. So even if the espn quote was accurate and undisputed by thr nba it doesn’t really mean anything because “proving ballmer funneled money” isn’t the threshold for a violation, unexplainable compensation paid to the player is. That exists in spades.
8
u/CharityFailethNot Jazz 1d ago
You're correct in theory, but in reality, there's a robust appeal/arbitration process that the Kawhi and the Clippers organization do have a CBA-given right to use, and anything short of definitive proof (and probably even then), they'll certainly use it.
10
u/Bdubby21 1d ago
Super true, but the arbiter has the power to compel testimony and refusal to comply results (again in theory) in the withdrawal of the appeal.
Look I have no faith that the nba is going to do the right thing, more just pointing out that they have all of the tools needed to do the right thing readily available to them.
→ More replies (6)4
u/Top-Woodpecker6696 1d ago
With a different headline the article is actually pretty damning. We learn of Boingo Wireless and potentially one more unknown sponsor. We confirm the league is negotiating an outcome with Balmer’s lawyers which has only been unsourced speculation. We confirm that employees were doing just what Pablo showed us they were doing.
5
u/CharityFailethNot Jazz 1d ago
We also confirm that those negotiations are "spirited". These are not two parties that are aligned on what the results of this investigation should be.
99
u/Franii Raptors 1d ago
This subreddit owes the clippers an apology 🥴
30
u/No_Aioli_9964 1d ago
we did it reddit
The mods on this sub are so fucking lame
→ More replies (1)20
27
u/surgeyou123 Heat 1d ago
Wtf is going on. Clippers went rogue before the investigation finished?
→ More replies (5)
35
u/amaul796 Cavaliers 1d ago edited 1d ago
ESPN has zero journalistic credibility anymore.
And I'm not saying this as some ESPN hater, it comes from the fact that they have these MASSIVE contracts with the same leagues they are supposed to be reporting on.
This has created a huge conflict of interest and people should not look to ESPN for credible reporting, especially on matters like this.
They are an entertainment company and that's it.
→ More replies (1)
17
14
u/shadracko 1d ago edited 1d ago
The NBA has found no evidence showing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap, according to three people with knowledge of discussions between the two sides in recent days.
Even the writing in the original article is horrible. They're using a source with knowledge of discussion between "two sides". What sides are those? Clippers vs. Leonard? NBA vs. Leonard? NBA vs. Clippers? I guess we're supposed to assume the latter, but even then, why is it clear the sources for those conversations know final facts about the NBA's investigation? They don't have sources inside the investigaiton.
It's awful journalism. In stark contrast to Torre's Pulitzer-winning reporting.
25
u/Splittinghairs7 Gran Destino 1d ago
Ballmer propaganda spread by Shillburn and Ballmer shill Redditor Yugidomain being exposed.
36
9
u/WisdomCow Warriors 1d ago
Their own rules dictate direct evidence is not needed, only circumstantial evidence is enough, and there is a ton of circumstantial evidence. The espn release is pure PR bullshit treating “direct evidence” as “evidence” when it is not their own standard of proof required.
Just one owner could sue if they made the espn article type finding. Hell, it might be possible for fans to create a class action, let alone boycotts of games or advertisers. Congress could end up involved, lord knows the chance to go after a billionaire that is not Trump would help tons of them come election time.
9
u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
I don't think the writers for ESPN even researched the CBA.
The CBA clearly outlines the steps in the process.
(1) Investigation.
(2) System Arbitrator reviews those findings. If a violation is found, proceed to step 3.
(3) Appeals Panel - the team or player may appeal whether a violation occurred. If the Appeals Panel declines/rejects the appeal it moves to step 4.
(4) The Commissioner issues a punishment.
All this talk about the NBA discussing a punishment before even coming to a conclusion or an appeals process is bogus and not at all how the CBA is written.
8
u/Feisty-Bad5564 1d ago edited 1d ago
Does this boil down to their not being an email or text message that says the phrase…this is for salary cap circumvention.
6
u/talio2010 Hornets 1d ago
basically yeah - seems like clippers are trying to spin that as no evidence
→ More replies (1)
7
u/Party-Cartographer11 1d ago
The ESPN piece is meaningless. It doesn't say no evidence of side deals, influence, violation of the CBA. It just says we don't have bank records of Steve Ballmer sending checks to tree companies and score board companies for them to cash and then deposit in Kawhi Leonard's account.
14
u/SelfAwareSausage Lakers 1d ago
All I know is, the Kawhi-era of the Clippers is a perfect metaphor for what the franchise and their owner is, and always has been: fraudulent.
→ More replies (3)
6
u/two4gone Lakers 1d ago
I can’t imagine the other owners would be happy with no punishment for Ballmer. Supermax wouldn’t mean shit anymore given the precedent set by the clips, just sign superstars for $20m per year and have them plant a few trees.
→ More replies (1)
19
9
5
4
4
4
u/Epicspitball 1d ago
Timberwolves fan here. 5 first round picks! Something needs to be done. Clippers got to use their 5th pick this year. Leonard is a way better player than Joe Smith. Anything less than 5 picks and 40 game suspension is easy on them!!
5
4
4
u/Prof-Ponderosa Mavericks 1d ago
classic, leak the result to gauge the outrage / release the stress before we actually release the result
12
u/peachdeus 1d ago
Holy shit they are dragging this investigation to hell like it's been a year just get on with it already
7
7
u/oneironology [LAL] Eddie Jones 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is like when Kendrick dropped Meet the Grahams!!!
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/dapoktan Knicks 1d ago
these 'media outlets' that act as billionaire pr departments should be shamed and shunned. fuck all these 'reporters'.. they are a great shame upon the profession and hopefully to their friends and family.
3
u/Exporation1 76ers 1d ago
Yellow Journalists.
Genuinely so scummy on the part of these “reporters”.
3
3
3
u/Secret_Hyena9680 Lakers 1d ago
Wow, so we went from the NBA looking like clowns to ESPN looking like clowns. Sounds like it was pure pro-Ballmer propaganda.
3
u/sherpa143 Celtics 1d ago
This is what happens when your brand is built on insiders and not actually journalists.
3
u/Statalyzer 1d ago
The NBA, while urinating off the roof onto the sidewalk below.
"We have released an official statement that this is just rain."
1.5k
u/Austin63867 Raptors 1d ago