Pamela Owens+FollowGilbert Arenas on Ballmer: “I Don’t Care What the Salary Cap Says, I’m Cheating”On January 21, 2025, Gilbert Arenas gave his unfiltered take on the Clippers’ salary cap controversy: “If I’m (Steve) Ballmer, I don’t give a f**k what that salary cap is. I don’t care what it says. I am cheating.” Arenas’ point? With billions in the bank and a roster built around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Ballmer’s only concern should be winning — not pinching pennies to stay under the cap. What do you think: is this just classic Agent Zero being wild, or does he have a point about owners with deep pockets doing whatever it takes to compete? #GilbertArenas #SteveBallmer #Clippers #NBA #NBADebate #Sports 103Share
James Allen+FollowClippers Respond to Salary Cap Circumvention AllegationsAfter reports surfaced that the Clippers allegedly funneled $28M to Kawhi Leonard through the now-bankrupt company Aspiration, the team released a statement via [Shams Charania]: “Neither the Clippers nor Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap… The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd.” The statement says Ballmer was one of many investors defrauded by Aspiration’s co-founder Joseph Sanberg, who has since pled guilty to a $243 million fraud scheme. The Clippers insist Kawhi’s endorsement deal with Aspiration was independent, adding they “take NBA compliance extremely seriously” and will fully cooperate with the league’s investigation. So where do you stand: is this just bad optics, or do you think the Clippers should still face punishment? #KawhiLeonard #Clippers #SteveBallmer #NBA #NBANews #BasketballDebate #Sports 10Share
FromTheLand+FollowHow Do You Punish Steve Ballmer?The numbers put it in perspective: NBA total valuation (2024): $132.8B Steve Ballmer’s net worth (2025): $153.1B His Clippers stake: $5.5B Think about that — Ballmer could theoretically buy the entire league and still be a billionaire 20 times over. So what’s a fine going to do? $10M? $50M? Even $100M? That’s pocket change. Draft picks? The Clippers already mortgaged their future. Push penalties out to 2034 and it’s still the same. Voiding Kawhi’s deal? Their window is closing anyway. At some point, this isn’t about punishment — it’s about whether the NBA even can hold an owner like this accountable. Stern would’ve gone nuclear, but does Adam Silver have the backbone to make an example here? Because right now, the message is clear: if your owner is rich enough, the rules don’t exist. #Clippers #SteveBallmer #NBANews #NBADebate #NBA #Sports #NBAOffseason #LosAngeles 10Share
FromTheLand+FollowReport: Kawhi Leonard Had $48M in Secret Deals Tied to Clippers Sponsor[Pablo Torre] just dropped another bombshell in the Clippers–Kawhi saga: Kawhi Leonard allegedly had a $20M secret side-deal with Aspiration, in addition to the previously reported $28M “no-show” endorsement deal. That’s $48M total in off-book money linked to the bankrupt sponsor. Steve Ballmer’s personal investment in Aspiration? $50M. If true, this would be one of the biggest salary cap circumvention scandals in NBA history. Should the league hammer the Clippers with heavy penalties — or does this go beyond the team and onto Kawhi himself? #KawhiLeonard #Clippers #SteveBallmer #NBA #NBANews #SalaryCap #Sports 10Share
