By Mathieu Seguin | Sport editor
The history of the free agency of Kawhi Leonard in 2019 continues to deliver its secrets. New revelations highlight extravagant requests which would have been made at the time by those around him, and in particular his uncle Dennis Robertson. At the time, the Lakers seemed close to attracting the winger, before he finally chose the clippers. Today, these elements could rekindle debates on the legitimacy of this choice.
According to information reported by The AthleticDennis Robertson would have requested impossible advantages to grant in the legal framework of the NBA. These requests included a share of ownership of the franchise, a private aircraft available permanently, a house as well as a amount guaranteed of income related to out -of -field commercial partnerships. Conditions deemed unacceptable and contrary to the regulation of the league.
At the time, the situation had already surprised many observers, as the Lakers seemed in a position of strength to bring Kawhi Leonard together with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. “Lakers officials have rejected each of these requests”reports Sam Amick, thus confirming that the organization had preferred not to enter a gray area with heavy consequences.
Possible sanctions for clippers
The NBA had carried out an investigation in 2019, without inflicting sanction. But these new revelations give a different dimension to the file, because they suggest that a parallel agreement would have been found by Leonard and the Clippers. A hypothesis which, if it were to be confirmed, could lead to severe sanctions.
If such a sanction was applied today, the clippers, already limited in their assets, could find themselves without first -round choice until 2033. A catastrophic perspective for the future of the organization.
Admittedly, Steve Ballmer has the necessary fortune to absorb a financial fine, but the NBA could strike much stronger. The owner of the Clippers has shown that he did not hesitate to invest, between high -end infrastructure and the construction of the flamboyant Intuit Dome. But the threat of a sporting sanction would represent a much harsher blow than any economic impact.
Pending the rest of the investigation, this new twist recalls how the signing of Kawhi Leonard had been surrounded by gray areas. More than five years later, the consequences could still change the fate of the Clippers and, indirectly, the balance of the entire West Conference.
