It’s no secret that there is a vast number of people who are upset about the result of the investigation involving the Los Angeles Clippers and seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, and for very different reasons. The punishments assigned to LA were substantial: suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, and president of business operations Gillian Zucker; a $30 million fine; along with having to forfeit five future first-round picks. Leonard, on the other hand, was issued just a $700k fine. In comparison to the alleged $66 million he made in illegal sponsorship deals (via Basketball Network), this feels like a simple slap on the wrist. 

Those affected the most by this scandal are obviously the Clippers and their fans. Losing nearly all significant draft picks is utterly detrimental to an organization, and the fans having to be left with such a horrible situation for their favorite team is unjust. Of course, LA’s organization has to be gutted by the result, being that they now have nothing to play for, with no chance of contending for a championship or a high lottery pick for several years. 

Fans of the Toronto Raptors are somewhere in the middle. The fact that they were able to trade the two-time Finals MVP back from LA was exhilarating, until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stifled those hopes because of the unnecessarily long investigation that ultimately lasted one day short of a full calendar year. After two and a half months of being in limbo, the deal sending two-time All-Star Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and significant draft compensation was finalized, allowing the fans to give a sigh of relief and thankfully regain excitement towards next season. 

There are neutral fans who were affected by the situation as well. Some expected Leonard to have his $50 million contract voided or at least some sort of suspension for his participation in the wrongdoing. While Article XIII, Section 3 of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) specifically stated that no player can be assigned a suspension in the event of salary cap circumvention, it wasn’t unreasonable to think Silver would make an exception in a case of this magnitude.

ESPN’s Shams Charania specifically reported that the two-time DPOY had “no knowledge of the situation,” but reporter Pable Torre immediately debunked this proposition with a contract accepting payment for the partnership with Aspiration, which presented Leonard’s signature. The former No. 15 pick in the 2011 NBA draft was obviously protected in this situation, and it’s likely due to the heavy involvement of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). The organization, led by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, has fought hard for years to maintain the credibility and security of the league’s players, and had Leonard received such a heavy penalty, there may have been a league-wide revolt. 

That doesn’t satisfy the fans or other organizations who demand justice. Leonard had just as much of a part in the scandal as the Clippers did, and for him to essentially not be punished, then be able to leave and join a comfortable situation in a familiar place with the Raptors, is simply unfair. It leaves the door open for other players to make illegal decisions behind Silver’s back because they know the league needs them to make money off the entertainment. At the end of the day, fans will either have to get over their feelings or stop watching, and the commissioner is going to take a chance on more fans watching with superstars playing as opposed to not, even if it’s the right thing to do.