NBA officials fear ‘open season’ if Clippers get light punishment in Kawhi Leonard case

Whatever the NBA ultimately decides in its investigation of the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard, the other 29 teams will apparently be paying very close attention.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on the NBA on NBC YouTube channel that he has heard from multiple high-ranking team officials who believe a light punishment could essentially invite teams to push the boundaries of the salary-cap rules.

“I have had several high-ranking team officials tell me throughout this process that if the Clippers get what amounts to a slap on the wrist, it is probably going to be open season on stuff like this,” Mannix said.

Mannix added that if the penalty for cap circumvention amounts to a fine and perhaps a couple of second-round picks, teams could decide “the risk is worth the reward” when pursuing a player of Leonard’s caliber.

That’s an interesting wrinkle given where the NBA’s investigation currently stands.

ESPN reported earlier this week that the league has found no evidence that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to Leonard as a means of circumventing the salary cap.

The investigation instead has focused on whether the Clippers violated league rules by introducing Leonard to sponsors, along with the possibility of a “failure to supervise.”

The Clippers responded by strongly denying any wrongdoing, saying introductions between players and team business partners are commonplace and insisting they never arranged outside compensation for Leonard.

Meanwhile, Leonard’s agreed-upon trade back to the Raptors remains on hold while the investigation plays out. Toronto and Leonard reportedly continue to expect the deal eventually will be completed.

So perhaps the biggest question is no longer whether the NBA drops the hammer.

It may be whether whatever punishment it chooses is enough to convince the rest of the league not to test the same boundaries.