In the early morning hours of February 2, the Dallas Mavericks agreed to trade franchise icon Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in what was immediately dubbed “the worst trade ever” by fans, the media, and even other teams.
Never mind that the Mavericks landed Anthony Davis and eventually the draft rights to Cooper Flagg. Seeing Doncic leave the only NBA franchise he ever wanted to play for was the defining blunder of last season, and the bitterness between fans and the Mavericks’ front office persists.
However, as the Los Angeles Clippers deal with their own PR disaster as they face investigation for circumventing the NBA salary cap rules, Bill Simmons thinks he has identified an even worse move than trading away Doncic.
Bill Simmons Slams LA Clippers for ‘Damaging Transaction’
While Mavericks fans correctly feel betrayed after the Doncic trade, with chants of “Fire Nico” ringing through the American Airlines Center, the Mavericks are expected to finish in a prime position to compete for a title.
The same can’t be said for the Clippers, who got dragged by a famous podcaster for signing Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $103 million contract in 2019.
“The entire thing of going into business with [Leonard], all the stuff that costs them, all the players in the draft picks, plus this scandal, it has to be the most damaging transaction in the history of the league,” claimed The Ringer’s Bill Simmons on his self-titled podcast on September 19.
Of course, the Mavericks made “one of the most damaging transactions” by trading away Doncic, although they did end up with a Hall of Fame talent in Davis and an elite prospect in Flagg, so even though the trade was executed poorly, it ended up working out for Dallas.
“In a roundabout way, it somehow worked out,” added Simmons of the Mavericks’ trade. The same likely can’t be said for the Clippers.
As if the possible penalties were not enough, the Clippers are slated to host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, although there have been calls for that financial honor to be taken away from them, as well.
The Mavericks only had to answer to a rabid fanbase. The Clippers will have to answer to Adam Silver and could be affected well into the 2030s, depending on the punishments imposed.
LA Clippers Signing Leonard Is Worse Than the Doncic Trade
On top of signing Leonard, they traded for Paul George, seemingly emerging as title favorites. However, the team has had limited success in large part thanks to George and Leonard’s frequent injuries.
Thanks to reporting from The Athletic’s Pablo Torre, the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer are under investigation for funneling money to Aspiration, a sustainability company, which then signed Leonard to a “no obligation” brand ambassador contract, avoiding the NBA salary cap.
The league can impose a wide range of punishments, including suspending Ballmer, taking away draft picks, fining the team, and even voiding Leonard’s remaining contract.