There's nothing "normal" about the situation involving the Los Angeles Clippers and forward Kawhi Leonard, given the NBA's investigation and the significant punishment handed down. It's uncharted territory, but it's even more complicated given that the Clippers and Toronto Raptors had agreed to a trade that would send Leonard back to his former team. That part is still expected to happen, but in the aftermath of the NBA's punishment, it seems the franchise's feelings toward Leonard have become, well, not great.
League commissioner Adam Silver docked the Clippers five first-round draft picks, gave owner Steve Ballmer a $30 million fine, and handed down three suspensions, including a year-long one for Ballmer, among other things. All of this for a situation
involving a player who is on his way out the door, and unsurprisingly, according to the latest report from NBA insider Jake Fischer on Bleacher Report, the Clippers are feeling pretty salty toward Leonard.
"The Clippers are still kind of licking their wounds here and figuring out how they want to move forward," Fischer said. "They are also very upset. From numerous people I spoke to, in and outside that building, the Clippers had been adamant that they were innocent of any wrongdoing all along. And I do think that was primarily focused on the Aspiration piece of this deal."
"...There is some element that Los Angeles is frustrated and disappointed by the fact that Kawhi Leonard essentially got off scot-free here," Fischer continued. "...Even though the Clippers are pissed, and they're unhappy with the situation and there's definitely some resentment [because] it seems and sounds that Kawhi is essentially getting to have his cake and eat it too."
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Fischer did go on to explain that the fact that Leonard's contract was not voided is actually beneficial to the Clippers. If it had been, instead of getting draft picks back in the expected deal with the Raptors, they would have essentially been left with Leonard gone and nothing back in return, as they're also expected to receive Brandon Ingram.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Clippers 'pissed' after Kawhi Leonard's NBA punishment as Raptors trade sits in limbo
