Kawhi Leonard's unfinished trade leaves Clippers fans waiting while the people running their team face suspensions and years of lost picks.
Clippers fans are still waiting to find out who will play for their team, even after the NBA handed down its punishment.
Kawhi Leonard's proposed move to Toronto remains unfinished because Los Angeles reportedly still needs to settle who can approve it during the leadership suspensions.
That is an awfully basic problem for a franchise trying to convince its supporters that it can recover.
The NBA's September 2 ruling took away five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033 and imposed a $30 million fine.
Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension, while Lawrence Frank received six months without pay.
Fans will spend years watching their team deal with decisions they had nothing to do with.
The Wait for a New Roster
The unsettled front office reportedly remains the main reason the deal has not closed, so its potential return still belongs to Toronto.
Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft picks would give the Clippers something to work with if the trade goes through.
Leonard averaged 27.9 points in 65 games last season, and replacing that production will take work even with Ingram coming off 21.5 points per game.
Ingram would give fans an established scorer to follow, while Dick would give the coaching staff another developing player to work with.
They deserve a chance to play together before every good or bad night becomes a verdict on the trade.
Ballmer and Frank Owe Answers
"The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations," commissioner Adam Silver said in his September 2 statement.
The Clippers reject the findings and intend to challenge them, but they still need to build a team under the announced penalties.
Ballmer's spending has helped make his ownership appealing, and the questions about his standing among other owners now concern something money alone will struggle to repair.
Fans can appreciate his investment and still be angry that the franchise lost five chances to draft a player.
Frank deserves credit for cooperating with investigators, who also found that he participated in misconduct.
His return should bring an explanation of what changes in the basketball operation, especially when fewer picks leave less room for a costly mistake.
Whoever does Frank's job during those six months will have trades to weigh and players to evaluate, and deserves room to make decisions that might outlast the temporary assignment.
Gillian Zucker's one-year suspension without pay also leaves the Clippers replacing their president of business operations during an already difficult offseason.
Give Fans Something Worth Watching
The Clippers can still trade for draft picks, but an opposing team needs a reason to part with one, regardless of whether Los Angeles considers a veteran expendable.
A useful season could include a young player earning more minutes or a trade that brings back someone worth keeping.
Those are goals fans can follow without being asked to believe a championship is close.
The people who buy tickets and watch the games deserve to know what the team is trying to accomplish.
The Clippers should start by naming who can finish the Leonard trade and getting their next roster onto the practice floor.
