The Los Angeles Clippers were supposed to be headed in the right direction.

They just finished their first season at their brand new arena, the Intuit Dome, and reloaded their roster with some formidable names this past summer. Many believed that they could emerge as one of the top seeds in the Western Conference and given their wealth of veteran talent, they profiled as the type of team that could punch above their weight in the postseason.

Unfortunately, in a cruel twist of events, it was recently revealed by veteran journalist Pablo Torre on his podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” that Kawhi Leonard seems to have received under the table payments amounting to almost $50 million. These did not just come from anyone, but from a company that was associated with the Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer.

Just when it seemed like luck and good fortune were now on the side of Los Angeles’ “other team,” the infamous Clippers Curse once again reared its ugly head. From botched draft picks to playoff flameouts to injured star players, this franchise has not been able to catch a break since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles over 40 years ago. This ongoing Leonard saga adds yet another chapter to their history of bad luck and could wind up being the most impactful one to date.

The NBA is now “commencing an investigation” and it will be interesting to see how they handle this, especially when considering that the situation involves Ballmer who is the richest owner in the league by far. 

The league does have some precedent for a case such as this one. Over 20 years ago, it was discovered that Joe Smith and the Minnesota Timberwolves had an under the table arrangement regarding an eventual contract extension. Minnesota was levied with several punishments, including a $3.5 million fine, draft pick forfeiture, and the voiding of Smith’s contract.

If a similar verdict is handed to the Clippers though, a fine would be a mere slap on the wrist for Ballmer who is now worth over $150 billion. It is likely that the league’s other owners will push for a punishment that is more punitive to the team, likely involving the team’s basketball operations such as draft picks or cap space rather than something financial in nature. 

Given the overwhelming evidence, this is more likely than not going to lead to a situation where Los Angeles’ team construction ability is hampered and their aspiration of winning an NBA championship is going to be pushed out further into the future. With Leonard and their key pieces–James Harden plus the newly acquired Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez as well as returning icon Chris Paul–in the twilight of their careers, this team might be forced to hit the reset button sooner rather than later. Rebuilding will be a challenge if they are stripped of picks, making it crucial that they trade away these ageing players while they still have some value. 

The Clippers are also set to host the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Intuit Dome and it will be interesting to see if this is affected by the ongoing drama. The same is true for basically everything about this team. Until the league renders a verdict, every plan that they make should be considered tentative. For a roster such as theirs that is built to win now, this is nothing short of a disaster.