By now, everyone has heard about the bombshell reporting by Pablo Torre, accusing the Clippers of circumventing the NBA salary cap to funnel extra money to Kawhi Leonard through a sham company. Steve Ballmer and the Clippers have denied the reports, claiming they, too, were scammed and had no knowledge of what the company was doing.
This story is far from over, and it’s too early to speculate about how it may play out, but the potential punishments that are being tossed around are lofty to say the least. Some of the early indications have even suggested this could go as far as having Leonard’s contract voided.
In that scenario, Kawhi would immediately become a free agent, with the other 29 teams in the league able to pursue the two-time Finals MVP.
Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes could shake up entire league
But this would be a free agency unlike any other. Nobody has been preparing for Kawhi to hit the open market, and very few teams have any cap space. Leonard would most likely be inclined to choose a team that offers the best fit for him and the best chance of winning another title.
This means teams would have a realistic chance at adding Leonard on a huge discount, possibly for the midlevel exception or even less. That means the top contending teams in the NBA could suddenly have a very real chance to add the veteran superstar Leonard on a discount.
There’s even a chance that Leonard could agree to sign a minimum contract and hit free agency again in a year or two to try and recoup some of his losses. That opens up the possibilities of Kawhi signing with teams like the Thunder, Rockets, Knicks, or even the Nuggets.
Nuggets could add Leonard to fill 15th roster spot
There’s a world where Leonard could decide his best option is to come to Denver, slot into the lineup between Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, and try to win another championship. He could immediately start at forward, pushing Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, or Aaron Gordon into a super sixth man role.
The Nuggets would quickly transform into a borderline superteam, and Leonard would immediately become the best teammate that Jokic has ever had. It’s a tantalizing fantasy, but one that could quickly become a reality.
At the same time, it could swing in the opposite direction, as Leonard could sign with a competitor like the Thunder, and vault them into a tier above Denver. It’s a volatile situation, and one that may not play out for a while, but it’s one that rocks the entire basketball world.