While the New York Knicks deal with the fallout from their latest disappointing loss against a top Eastern Conference team, the expectation is that they, like many others around the league, are closely monitoring whatever happens next in one of the NBA’s most uncomfortable recent sagas–the LA Clippers‘ alleged side deal with star forward Kawhi Leonard.
There is the possibility, by the time that situation is settled, that the Clippers’ pain could be the Knicks’ gain. That’s because a decision on the league’s investigation into the case, which stemmed from a report from the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” detailing how the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by giving Leonard a no-show endorsement job with a company called Aspiration, is likely to come down soon.
And while the Clippers are expected to pay some penalty, in fines or in draft picks being docked, the real cliff-hanger for teams around the NBA is whether commissioner Adam Silver also comes down on Leonard himself, perhaps invalidating the final year (at $50 million) of his current contract with L.A.
Investigation Could Lead to Invalidated Contract
If that happens, the Knicks could stand to reap a major reward. Leonard would be a free agent, and while he might not want to leave the West Coast, if he is looking for a place where he could step in and help lead a roster to a championship, the Knicks would be under serious consideration.
As Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh, a longtime NBA insider, noted this week, invalidating Leonard’s contract would make him a free agent and set off a clamor to sign him. That could include the Knicks.
Said Haberstroh: “Maybe it’s a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment, whether it’s forcing Kawhi Leonard’s contract to be invalidated. And I think that would be one of the things that is on the table, because that is what David Stern did with the Joe Smith cap circumvention with the Minnesota Timberwolves decades ago.
“The interesting thing on that is it provides a conundrum where I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re now going to see a frenzy for his services, with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors or the New York Knicks—they would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That would create more hysteria and chaos around the league.”
Knicks Could Pursue Kawhi Leonard Either Way
Before the Knicks prepare their offer for Leonard, though, it is important to remember that Silver won’t necessarily punish Leonard by cutting off his current contract. There is a precedent with the Smith case, which was upheld by an arbitrator in 2000, but in that case, Smith and the Timberwolves had directly signed illegal NBA contracts.
That’s not what Leonard did. His contract with the Clippers is legal as it stands–it’s the side deal that is the problem. That could cause Silver to decline to go after Leonard’s current deal, or at least, it could leave the NBA open to an appeal to an arbitrator.
Even Leonard’s contract does stay in place, it’s more probable now that the Clippers would look to trade him this summer. Surely the Knicks, if they come up short this season, will be in the mix to trade for a player who is an outstanding and versatile two-way star, averaging 28.0 points and 6.4 rebounds, and whose salary slot matches up nicely with that of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Much is still to be decided on Leonard, but the Knicks connection is not expected to dissipate.
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