Green on the Kawhi-Clippers case: “Why does the salary cap exist?”
Draymond Green sides with Kawhi Leonard in the Clippers case and says he is glad Leonard wasn’t suspended. He then takes aim at the NBA’s salary cap rules
During the Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green came to the defense of Kawhi Leonard, who was involved in the scandal surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers and a possible attempt to circumvent the salary cap. Green said he was pleased that Leonard wasn’t suspended and backed his version of events, according to which he had no knowledge of the arrangement.
That $700,000 is essentially compensation for what happened with the deal. Kawhi said he didn’t know anything about it, and I take him at his word. I’m sure Daktronics is a reputable company. If you get an offer from Daktronics, you’re not immediately running to your agent asking, ‘Hey, how do I get this?’ You just think, ‘Oh, I have a deal with Daktronics,’ knowing that it’s a very reputable company
Draymond Green
Green then emphasized that he was happy that most of the punishment fell on the Clippers rather than Leonard.
If you look at any arena, they’re probably using their systems for the scoreboard. So, you know, I trust Kawhi’s version, and I’m glad most of the penalty fell on the team and not Kawhi
Draymond Green
The conversation then shifted to the salary cap, with Green questioning the very principle that prevents players from receiving certain compensation through sponsors connected to their franchises.
And, like I said, the salary cap has to be addressed. I think that’s the biggest thing. Why does a salary cap exist? Why are players prevented from making money through sponsors of the team, the league or whoever else?
Draymond Green
According to Green, the NBA presents itself as a league built around the interests of its players, while at the same time preventing them from earning additional millions through commercial agreements.
We always talk about it being a player-centric league, a league that’s player-oriented, player-driven, that cares about the players’ well-being and their interests. Yet we’re in a situation where a player could potentially make an extra $20 to $30 million, and we respond by saying, ‘Oh yeah, you’re in trouble.’
Draymond Green
For Green, then, the issue isn’t simply determining what Leonard did or didn’t know. The Clippers case has brought a broader question back to the forefront: why should an NBA player be limited in his ability to earn money through commercial agreements?