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When Pablo Torre did that expose in September, onlookers thought this would have a seismic effect on the NBA equal to the Clippers drama of 2014. The NBA players who’ve dealt with the business firsthand hardly felt so. The Clippers and their owner, Steve Ballmer are under investigation and it’s anyone’s guess what the consequences this could carry. If you ask one of the players whose seen the gritty side of the NBA business, this is hardly going to cause a ripple. Gilbert Arenas knows the sense of self-preservation within the NBA well. That drama that made him switch from #0 to #9 at the Wizards showed that the league will do its best to protect itself. He made those feelings very loud on Netflix’s Untold: Shooting Guards. But this has nothing to do with his situation. It’s just a lesson on the NBA’s way of handling business. Arenas was once again chatting with his favorite interviewer, DJ Vlad on a variety of topics. Inevitably, Vlad had to ask what’s going to happen to the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers situation. The short answer according to the Wizards star – “Nothing.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The long answer is not for the idealists. “Let’s be honest, to get around in a salary cap in a business where you’re capping off million and billionaire from spending money that they want to spend, I want to pay you, but I can’t because these broke boys are complaining, so I gotta figure out how to get you to this team.” In the immediate aftermath of Torres’ expose, several retired NBA players were hardly shocked. Amused, more like it. They were on their podcasts (like Robert Horry) cautiously claiming this practice isn’t new. It’s just the only one publicized now. They also imply that the commissioner Adam Silver is not unaware of it. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad As the NBA investigates it, more information is coming out every week. A verdict, and a harsh one at that, seems far away. There’s a big reason for it, according to Arenas. “You think he would be the only one guilty of it?” He bluntly said what most are afraid to say out loud. “The commissioner works for the owners, so how many of these other owners will be guilty of the same thing? So, if you investigate this one, then that means you’re going to have to open up investigations for all of them, and at the end of the day, they pay you your salary. So, you’re not going to find anything.” Apparently the Clippers owner’s stance isn’t looking so great as more evidence goes against him. Where other analysts predict massive fines, suspensions, or lost draft stock or even a possible repeat of Donald Sterling’s punishment, Arenas says the opposite. Steve Ballmer might get a slap on the wrist so the NBA can keep this can of worms closed. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad No going around the governors, Agent Zero says Even Pablo Torre confirmed that the Clippers aren’t the only team who have gone around the salary cap. He had ended his revelations by stating he was investigating the Knicks next. If he comes out with that too, the NBA will have to investigate another team or, depending on fans’ sentiments, take leaguewide measures. As No Chill Gil said the salary cap was to even the playing field, and Adam Silver will have to handle the other teams the same way he does the Clippers. As per Gilbert Arenas, NBA owners are astute businessfolks who will get creative with salary caps and tax aprons if it can get them the talent to win championships. If he is to be believed, the governors could easily tell the league office, “Don’t tell me how to spend my money, that’s really what it is. I want to pay him, that’s why I gotta do all this jumping through the hoops s— to give him $28 million, because that’s what I think he’s worth.” Kawhi Leonard could easily be a high valued player if not for the injuries. Arenas and others implied in the recent past too that if the NBA were very serious, Leonard wouldn’t be playing this preseason. Their focus has been more about if Kawhi’s combination with Chris Paul, James Harden, and Bradley Beal makes the Clippers championship contenders. Arenas might be reaching, or he sounds like it as usual. He could be saying what everyone’s thinking. He’s not even the only NBA player who sounds numb to this situation. While the Aspiration drama caused uproar outside the league, the NBA players, retired and active, have been largely blase about it. They’ve seen too much inside the league to blink. To an average NBA veteran, the Clippers investigation is an exercise in transparency that won’t change the culture.
