September is often the most boring and dry news month of the NBA year. Most rosters are set with teams gearing up for training camp, leaving little room for any excitement. This year, however, was different thanks to Pablo Torre, Kawhi Leonard, and the LA Clippers.
Earlier in the month, Torre released findings of his investigation into Leonard and the Clippers. He accused the parties of using Aspiration, a tree-planting company, as a way to circumvent the salary cap and put up to $48 million extra in the star’s wallet.
The league is expected to conduct its own investigation into the situation and could wind up punishing both parties as a result. The Athletic’s John Holinger outlined some potential outcomes in a recent article, including the possibility of Leonard’s contract being voided.
In that case, the former Finals MVP would be barred from inking a new deal with the Clippers and would have to sign elsewhere.
Kawhi Leonard probably will never be a Celtic, even if his contract is voided
When living in the world of hypotheticals, it’s nearly impossible to hear this and not think, “Wow, what if he went to the Celtics?”
First and foremost, it would be sick. Adding an All-Star caliber wing with championship experience to Boston’s roster could breathe some life into a fanbase that’s had its teeth kicked in over the past four months.
Unfortunately, it’s probably not going to happen. It actually might not be allowed. Depending on how the league classifies any potential separation between Kawhi and the Clippers, the Celtics could be barred from signing him because they’re above the first apron.
First-apron teams are prohibited from signing any player who was making more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($12.9 million) from the buyout market. Leonard, even without his tree money, falls under this umbrella.
Even if the rule doesn’t apply to the situation, the only way that it would even be fathomable for Leonard to become a Celtic is if the league’s verdict came before next summer. At this point, there aren’t any teams with significant cap space to offer him an expensive contract, which would at least allow the financially-strapped Cs to make a competitive offer. Even then, he’d have to want to play in Boston, which just doesn’t feel as appealing this year with all of the roster turnover.
Would he elevate the team into contention? Yeah, but you could make that argument for just about any team. The most realistic outcome in this case would be for Leonard to join an established contender. That’s typically how mid-season buyouts go. Maybe there’s part of the 34-year-old’s psyche that makes him want to be “the guy,” which he could do alongside Jaylen Brown as Jayson Tatum recovers from a ruptured Achilles.
That’s really the only motive that would swing Leonard towards Boston.
Of course, if his contract were to be voided after the season, there would be plenty more money to be had… just not with the Celtics.
Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White are roughly set to earn a combined $145 million next season. There simply would not be room to pay Leonard anything substantial.
So, as fun as it sounds, a bond between Boston and Kawhi Leonard is unlikely.