Kawhi Leonard is a name that Philadelphia 76ers fans still haven’t forgotten.
He drained the improbable shot that secured the Toronto Raptors a victory over Philadelphia in Game 7 of the 2018-19 Eastern Conference Semifinals. This shot infamously left Embiid in tears and the vibes surrounding the 76ers haven’t been the same since. Now, another one of Leonard’s actions may indirectly come back to haunt Philadelphia once more, or make amends for old wounds.
Investigative journalist Pablo Torre of The Athletic reported that Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers allegedly facilitated a no-show endorsement deal between Leonard and sustainability company Aspiration to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap. If the league punishes the Clippers, it could impact the 76ers, who own multiple future first-round picks from the Clippers.
These picks matter for the 76ers
Philadelphia acquired Los Angeles’ unprotected 2028 first-rounder and its 2029 first-round pick swap in return for trading James Harden on November 1st, 2023. Since then, the 76ers’ wealth of draft capital has been viewed in two distinct ways.
Some believe that Philadelphia should use Los Angeles’ future first-rounders in a potential win-now trade. Meanwhile, others view these picks as an escape hatch from the hefty contracts of Joel Embiid or Paul George. No matter where anyone ends up on the spectrum, these firsts could have a heavy implication on the 76ers’ future. That’s if Philadelphia gets the chance to use them.
The Clippers’ punishment could change things
Part of what makes Leonard and Los Angeles’ situation interesting is the uncharted territory the NBA is in. Sure, teams have tampered with upcoming free agents and received slaps on the wrist from the league. Still, nothing of this magnitude has occurred since the Minnesota Timberwolves sneakily signed Joe Smith on January 22nd, 1999.
The league later discovered that Minnesota was paying him under the table and it was stripped of five future first-rounders and fined $3.5 million. However, the difference is that Leonard’s arrangement came from a third party, while Smith’s came from the Timberwolves themselves.
If the NBA’s investigation deems Los Angeles worthy of punishment, it remains to be seen what that would look like. Considering the 76ers hold two of the Clippers’ future picks, it’s unlikely the league would terminate them. Instead, the NBA could take away its picks from 2030 and beyond if judged necessary.
What does this mean for the 76ers now?
This impasse puts Philadelphia in an awkward spot. If the 76ers come across a trade worthy of parting with one of the Clippers’ picks, that pick may not hold as much value as it once did because of the NBA’s ongoing investigation.
But, there is also a chance that these firsts could increase in value if Los Angeles suffers penalties for its accusations. This could be a huge development if Philadelphia decides to embrace a new era post-Embiid in the future.