When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. "There's just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself," he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.
Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 **** ists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the **** le in 2014.
Related: LeBron James is everything Philadelphia wants. And everything it can't stand | Bryan Armen Graham
"The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone," the team's president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. "We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are."
But even a historic season wasn't enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. "There wasn't as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left," says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. "I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a **** le, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto."

#SPURS #vince #carter #believe

Bobby Marks: The Thunder now have 13 out of 14 of their current players under contract for next season. They are also projected to have 3 firsts in next year's draft, including swap rights with the Clippers.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Thunder now have 13 out of 14 of their current …

#thunder #hoops #hype

Law Murray: Notably, the LA Clippers did not "announce" this trade via a personnel executive, which is what they did for all other transaction releases this offseason, whether it had statements or not.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Notably, the LA Clippers did not "announce" this trade …

#hype

Former Houston Rockets center Montrezl Harrell appears to be attempting an NBA comeback. Although he's recently played in the BIG3, Harrell is still 32 years old and is now aiming to make another NBA roster. Harrell, who started out as a Rockets second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, may be eyeing a reunion in Houston.
Following the conclusion of the BIG3 season, Harrell was seen at Rio Grande Valley Vipers open tryouts Saturday, competing for a spot on the team. Harrell's NBA career spanned eight seasons, two of which were with the Rockets. In those years, the former Louisville big man averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 **** ists, 0.3 steals and 0.5 blocks. Harrell would later become one of the league's premiere sixth men, taking home the 2019-2020 Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 **** ists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocks for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harrell's last NBA campaign came during the 2022-23 season, where he suited up in 57 games for the Philadelphia 76ers.
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#harrell #rockets #houston #points

The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is finally going forward, with the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers agreeing to complete the deal that was agreed to earlier this summer, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
The deal will be the same as what was agreed to 2 1/2 months ago: Leonard returns to the Raptors, with the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey ******* , two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap, said the person who spoke to The ******* ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approval.
It's a huge move for Toronto, which won the 2019 NBA ******* le with Leonard leading the way and is expecting to contend in the Eastern Conference. But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard's compensation.
The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month with massive penalties as a result of that probe, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks, among other sanctions.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was hit with a $700,000 penalty as a result of that investigation. But he was not suspended and his contract was not voided, and the Raptors evidently are now certain that his status will not be affected.

#clippers #raptors #picks #deal

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype is releasing rankings at every position. While Fred VanVleet was rated rather low as a point guard, Rockets star Kevin Durant was recently ranked as one of the best in his position. In a list of the top 27 small forwards in the NBA, Durant placed fifth after averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 ***** ists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 78 appearances last season.
The Duke duo of Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg were ranked first and second, respectively, before the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers (Jaylen Brown) came in at No. 3. No. 4 is a much more controversial choice, as Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was given the nod over Durant despite playing in just 33 contests last year. Kawhi Leonard (Raptors), Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Brandon Ingram (Clippers) and Brandon Miller (Hornets) rounded out the top-10.
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#season #ranked

Some might have been surprised to see Stan Verrett back in ESPN's orbit, but not him.
Verrett, who left the Worldwide Leader last year, has returned as host of NFL Total Access on NFL Network. NFL Total Access originally ended in May 2024, but after ESPN acquired NFL Network, the powers that be decided to revive the show.
The new NFL Total Access debuted on Sept. 8 and will air Tuesday through Friday from noon to 2 p.m. ET. Verrett has stayed busy over the past year. The New Orleans native hosted a digital pregame show for the Saints and appeared on the L.A. Clippers, NBA TV, and FanDuel Sports Network, as well as a Twitch show with his former SportsCenter co-anchor, Neil Everett.
We recently caught up with Verrett to discuss his new job.
Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

#total #show #leader #espn

The NBA sources are confident the criminal probe will focus primarily on the Clippers, the financial angle of the discretions and not encroach on any basketball side of the equation. And if the justice department looks at deals involving the Clippers, now-bankrupt Aspiration, the technology company Daktronics — which said it was co-operating with the investigators — and other companies, it has nothing to do with the Raptors or the long-awaited transaction.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The NBA sources are confident the criminal probe will …

#sources

As the American justice department investigates the Los Angeles Clippers and its salary cap contravention deals involving Kawhi Leonard and several outside companies, there is no immediate concern it will scuttle an expected trade with the Raptors. According to NBA sources granted anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation, the latest wrinkle shouldn't preclude Leonard from becoming a Raptor before training camp begins in about two weeks.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Continuing investigation, the latest wrinkle shouldn't …

#shouldn 't #american #clippers #kawhi

It started with yelling about toilets. Steve Ballmer was so serious about turning the Los Angeles Clippers into a serious franchise for the first time in their existence that he wanted to make sure no fan ever waited in a long line to use the bathroom when the team opened its new arena. Ballmer's drive to win eventually led the Clippers to courting Kawhi Leonard in free agency, fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to a 2019 NBA championship. Leonard wanted to live in Los Angeles, yes, but he also wanted Paul George as his running mate, so the Clippers shipped out a boatload of draft picks and future two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get him.
Leonard's people also made it known that their client wanted the type of big endorsement deals his off-putting, robotic personality couldn't land legitimately. Leonard's now infamous Uncle Dennis Robertson never tried to be subtle about his desire to secure similar off-court bags to the ones Kawhi's contemporaries like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant were landing on their own accord, and leaks of his demands circulated as soon as Leonard hit free agency.
The Clippers became so entangled in pleasing Leonard that it led to blatant salary cap circumvention, first reported by investigative journalist Pablo Torre. The NBA found enough evidence supporting Torre's claims that it hammered the Clippers with the most severe penalty in league history, stripping five future first-round draft picks, suspending executives including Ballmer, and more. That figured to be the end of the story, with the Clippers spending the next decade trying to climb out of the abyss. Torre continued to hint that there was another shoe to drop, and now that it's here, the Clippers might be in much bigger trouble than anyone first believed.
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers, according to the New York Times, and it's already issued one subpoena. While the scope of the investigation is unclear for now, the fact that the feds are watching the Clippers for under-the-table dealings potentially makes this a much bigger deal than simply breaking NBA rules.
How does breaking NBA rules amount to a federal crime by the Clippers? While there's a lot left to come out, the main idea is that the Clippers committed some level of fraud. Daktronics was a publicly traded company, the only one of the four tied up in the Leonard scandal to fit that description, while Aspiration, Lockton Insurance, and Boingo Wireless were not. Publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to disclose big investments, and it sure feels like that never happened when dealing with Leonard.

#ballmer

Clippers, Kings predicted to battle for $19M Pistons' former first-rounder, elite versatile athlete originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Early in the summer, it was hard to tell what was going to be next for the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren as they worked through their contract negotiations. The two sides were warned that it could be a long process because of Duren's camp and other factors.
It was known that the center wanted a max contract. It was his postseason play that had Detroit skeptical about giving him everything he wanted in a contract.
"The longer Jalen Duren remains unsigned in free agency, the Detroit Pistons will be forced to reconsider whether the hassle is worth the reward. Duren's All-NBA season officially made him eligible for a five-year supermax extension, but his underwhelming play in the postseason immediately made the chances of the big man landing that payday at an all-time low," Pistons Powered's John Canady wrote.
The latest update for Duren and the Pistons is not good. Both sides currently sit at a $5 million contract rift.

#jalen #postseason #play

The Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers used secret endorsement deals to boost its star player Kawhi Leonard's income while violating the NBA's salary cap, the New York Times reported, just a week after the league suspended the team's billionaire owner Steve Ballmer for a year.
Owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers congratulates Kawhi Leonard #2 after his 55-point game to win 112-99 against the Detroit Pistons at Intuit Dome.
Citing unnamed sources briefed on the matter, the Times reported that the matter is being investigated by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn and the probe is in its "earliest stages."
The report noted that prosecutors have already issued a subpoena as part of the probe, but details of the crimes being investigated remain unclear.
The DOJ investigation began before the NBA handed out its own punishments against the Clippers—including a year-long suspension of the team's owner and ninth-richest person in the world.

#owner #angeles #kawhi

The NBA brought the hammer down on the LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap to funnel more money to Kawhi Leonard — and now federal prosecutors are looking into the matter.
The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' efforts to secure "no-show" endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, the New York Times reports. This investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the office that has traditionally looked into issues with professional sports leagues.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and it's unclear what, if any, federal charges could come out of it, according to the report.
The Justice Department investigation comes in addition to the Securities and Exchange Commission looking into Daktronics' role in the scandal, as it had an endorsement deal with Leonard despite never having had a celebrity endorser before and there being no evidence Leonard did anything for the company. Daktronics is publicly traded, and the SEC is tasked with protecting shareholders.
The NBA oversaw a year-long investigation of its own into the Clippers working to circumvent the salary cap with Leonard and last month came down with the harshest penalties ever imposed on a team:

#salary

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, the Warriors have revealed some new threads. Golden State is one of eight teams to receive new "Specter" jerseys from Nike. The Warriors' edition is prominently black with blue stripes on the right side and yellow number outlines. The seven other teams to receive "Specter" jerseys are the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. The "Specter" jersey was meant as a way to celebrate some of the league's oldest NBA teams.
Since the release, fans have had mixed reviews on the new uniforms, but most overall comments have been negative. When the Warriors will debut these jerseys has not yet been revealed. In the meantime, Golden State will begin a six-game preseason run October 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers in Hawaii.
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#teams #state #revealed

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a report by The New York Times.
The team is accused of circumventing the NBA salary cap involving Kawhi Leonard.
Last week, the NBA punished the franchise with a $30 million fine and suspended owner Steve Ballmer. The league also stripped the Clippers of five first-round draft picks.
The Clippers have said they intend to vigorously challenge the findings and penalties.
This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

#clippers #kawhi #last

The Los Angeles Clippers are still reeling in the aftermath of a cap circumvention scandal. For their part in helping Kawhi Leonard secure millions in off-the-court, "no-show" endorsement deals, the franchise had to give up five first-round picks and $30 million, culminating in one of the most severe penalties in NBA history.
Through it all, Kawhi escaped the scandal relatively unscathed. Besides a $700K fine, he didn't face any major consequences, and even his trade to the Toronto Raptors remains completely untouched. And yet, even now, the Clippers have yet to finalize the trade, leading some executives to suspect they are considering some sort of revenge against Leonard for how he's turned his back on the team.
"The Raptors, I'm told, are eager to consummate the trade after initially placing it on hold July 9 (to guard against a Leonard suspension or the outright voiding of his contract) and still firmly believe that the deal will happen as agreed upon and intended. Ditto for Leonard and his camp," wrote NBA insider Marc Stein. "Yet the delay has naturally led some league observers to wonder aloud whether the Clippers are holding off — or considering something even more drastic — to spite Leonard for so readily accepting the league's punishment rather than invoking his right to pursue an appeal. Any formal appeal within the NBA's auspices in such matters, remember, must be initiated by the player in question rather than the team according to league by-laws."
The Clippers have given up everything for Kawhi, and they set themselves back 10 years just to make him happy. From his very arrival, Kawhi was making outlandish requests and even forced the Clippers to give up five first-round picks (along with future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) in a deal for Paul George. By the end, the total cost of Leonard's services amounts to 10 first-round picks (not counting SGA), and it was all for a team that never made the Finals.
So when the Clippers were caught holding the bag in the cap circumvention scandal, they naturally expected some level of cooperation from Leonard, someone they moved heaven and earth to appease. Instead, he settled with the NBA right away, avoiding more severe penalties while stripping the Clippers of any power to fight back.

#clippers #leonard #first

A longtime NBA journeyman recently named Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as one of the league's top five players. In an interview with HoopsHype, 14-year NBA veteran Danilo Gallinari spoke about his career and the current state of the NBA. When asked to give a top-five list of current players, Curry was the first name he said. "Current Top 5, I always, I guess I always go with the old heads first: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. And then I put Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic."
Gallinari, a former No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, played for eight different franchises, with his longest stop coming in Denver. Despite suffering two ACL tears during his career, the Italian forward put together an impressive resume, playing in 777 career games, averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 ***** ists and 0.7 steals while shooting 42.8% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc. His strongest campaign came with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2018-19 season, where he averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 ***** ists and 0.7 steals. Gallinari's final season came during the 2023-24 campaign, where he played for three different teams, the Wizards, Pistons and Bucks.
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#current #first

A stunning new rumor claims the Los Angeles Clippers might scrap the planned trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for a very petty reason.
When Pablo Torre broke the news last year about Clippers management creating shell companies to pay Leonard extra money and win his free agent sweepstakes in 2019, many wondered how severe the punishment for salary cap circumvention would be. Well, the long-awaited hammer dropped last week.
After the NBA found undeniable evidence of illegal violations by the Clippers, the franchise was fined $30 million. Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for a year. Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker was suspended without pay for a year, and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was suspended without pay for 6 months. The team was also stripped of five future first-round picks in upcoming seasons.
It is the stiffest penalty in NBA history. However, the one individual involved who got a slap on the wrist was Leonard. After speculation that he could be suspended or have his contract voided, the seven-time All-Star received a $700,000 fine. He also released a statement taking partial ownership of the fiasco.
With the punishment for cap circumvention finalized, the Clippers are expected to complete a previously agreed-upon trade sending the 35-year-old to the Raptors. Or maybe not. It is a bit odd that the two teams haven't completed a deal over a week after the penalty was handed down. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, some around the league believe there is a surprising reason the trade is still in limbo.

#clippers #year #trade

Clippers may be forced to trade $197M elusive 3-time All-Star after Kawhi Leonard punishment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Clippers were the most talked-about team this offseason, and it was definitely not for the right reasons. The Clippers will enter the season trying to figure out how to maneuver the future of the organization after the NBA dropped the hammer.
LA was caught giving Kawhi Leonard improper benefits over the last few years. As a result, the Clippers lost five first-round draft picks.
"The NBA on Wednesday announced severe punishments for the LA Clippers -- including the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a fine of $30 million and a yearlong suspension of owner Steve Ballmer -- for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star Kawhi Leonard," ESPN wrote.
The Clippers will try to find ways to get that draft capital back, and it could very well force them into trades they don't want to make. One name that has emerged as a likely trade candidate is three-time All-Star Darius Garland.

#five

Instead, on the latest episode of a podcast that continues to make NBA headlines, Green pivoted the conversation around the scandal to not just Leonard or the Clippers but the league's salary cap itself. "I think that's what comes out of this," Green said. "Why is there a salary cap? Why are guys being prevented from making money from team sponsors or league sponsors, or whoever else? "We talk about, we're in a league that is player-centric, that is player-focused, that is player-driven, that has the best benefits, best interest for the players. And here's a situation where a guy can make 20 to 30 million extra dollars, and we're like, 'Oh, yeah, you're in trouble.' I'm happy Kawhi didn't get the bulk of this punishment. I think it's absolutely beautiful."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Draymond Green on Clippers investigation: 'Why is there a salary cap?'

#player #think

When the Los Angeles Clippers dealt a 20-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the move seemed like the ultimate push to put the Clippers in championship contention.
Yes, the Clippers gave up a haul of future picks, but they formed their dream star duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. As much promise as Gilgeous-Alexander showed in his lone season in L.A., the Clippers wanted to win now. To them, making a deal involving trading SGA gave them the best chance to do that.
Though Gilgeous-Alexander was initially distraught at being shipped off to a new team, the move did remarkable wonders for his development. Now, it is clear the deal wasn't a hindrance to SGA's career; it was a blessing in disguise.
Clippers players loved Gilgeous-Alexander in the locker room and bought stock in the Canadian's potential.
Clipper vet Lou Williams grew a bond with SGA and respected his disciplined work ethic for a young player. In just one year, Gilgeous-Alexander left an indelible impression on his teammates.

#alexander #move #gave #deal

It seemed like a heartwarming ending. Chris Paul, the man who helped turn around the Clippers' culture and the transition from Donald Sterling to Steve Ballmer as an owner during the Lob City era, came back to the Clippers for his final season before retiring.
Instead, Paul's strong leadership style clashed with coach Tyronn Lue and management — CP3 would say he was holding them accountable — and 21 games into the season they sent him away from the team (but still on the roster). Then at the deadline he was traded to Toronto in what was purely a financial move.
Chris Paul discussed that exit on the Build or Break podcast and did not hold back.
"What's interesting about that whole situation is, it's probably one of the most disrespectful things that I've endured...
"I think just because of the investment we made in the team for as long as we have, and to see the way stuff was handled. What it lets you know is that no matter what you do or what you've done, **** ody cares."

#chris #paul #ballmer

On paper, it could appear as though the league was taking away the 2029 Clippers pick the Sixers had the right to swap. But a league source confirmed a report from PhillyVoice that said the NBA was taking away a first-round pick the Pacers owe the Clippers from the Ivica Zubac trade and was not touching the Clippers' own pick, meaning the Sixers' right to swap that pick remains intact.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: A league source confirmed a report from PhillyVoice …

#clippers #league

The league is also taking away five first-round draft picks from the Clippers in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033. The 76ers still have some Clippers draft capital from the trade that sent James Harden to Los Angeles in 2023, but that will be unaffected by the league's punishments, a source confirmed.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 76ers' Clippers draft capital from James Harden trade is safe from NBA penalties

#clippers #trade #angeles #hoops

The Iowa Cubs were sent to Davy Jones' Locker by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 10-5.
Andrew Wantz started and held the Clippers to just one run on three hits over four innings. Wants walked one and struck out three.
Gavin Hollowell pitched one inning in a rehab ***** ignment and allowed one run on two hits and two walks. He did not strike anyone out.
Shelby Miller pitched on back-to-back nights for the first time in his rehab and got the loss. Miller was charged with four runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two. However . . .
I should also mention that two of the runs charged to Miller scored after he left the game.

#four #struck

When the Boston Celtics were bought by private equity magnate Bill Chisholm, it was not yet clear how much people in Chisholm's financial orbit would leave their imprint on the NBA in the few years, for good and ill alike. Now, the Celtics appear to be stewarded by a genuine fan of the team, bit had to make hard calls on roster construction because of a plan put together in part to limit how much money team owners spend on salary.
Mix in the scandal revolving around erstwhile Los Angeles Lakers majority owner Mark Walter. Then add a hefty dose of the Los Angeles Clippers - Kawhi Leonard scandal sparked by Steve Ballmer's especially deep pockets and the ongoing process of league expansion, and it has likely never been clearer how much of an imprint billionaires have on the league. The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with "Hoops Hype" NBA ******* yst Cyro ******* eo to talk through this dynamic through a Celtics lens on their most recent episode of the show.
They also get caught up on the news at this late date of the summer NBA doldrums, so be sure to tune in.
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#imprint #team #boston

Australian Ben Simmons, who missed last season with nagging back injuries, has agreed on a one-year NBA comeback deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The 30-year-old point guard was the top pick in the 2016 draft by Philadelphia but missed the 2016-17 campaign with a broken right foot only to earn the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Simmons last played in the NBA in early 2025 as a reserve with the Los Angeles Clippers but ESPN and The Athletic reported he has come to terms on a deal worth $3.5 million with the Kings, who were reportedly impressed with his performance at a workout this week.
He will likely serve as a backup for rookie guard Darius Acuff, the seventh pick in last June's draft, as well as a possible fill-in at other roster positions.
Simmons averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 ******* ists a game over eight NBA seasons, producing his best numbers with the 76ers before sitting out the 2021-22 campaign then being traded to Brooklyn, where he struggled and was waived in 2025 before finishing the season with the Clippers.

#year

Ben Simmons is making a comeback to the NBA after sitting out last season with injuries, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.
A person familiar with the deal confirmed to The ***** ociated Press that he will sign with Sacramento. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced.
ESPN first reported the move and said Simmons would be paid $3.5 million.
The 30-year-old from Australia is a former No. 1 draft pick, three-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year, but he has struggled to perform and stay healthy in recent years. He sat out last season while dealing with back and leg injuries after ending the 2024-25 season in a reserve role for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sacramento is coming off a 22-60 season and is trying to rebuild around rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who was picked seventh in the draft after a stellar freshman season at Arkansas. The Kings were looking for veteran help after waiving DeMar DeRozan and deciding not to bring back Russell Westbrook. Those two scored the most points last season for Sacramento.

#season #sacramento #deal

Former Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons has not played in the NBA since the 2024-25 season when he finished with the Los Angeles Clippers. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft took a year off after a tumultuous couple of seasons in the league, but is now set to make his return.
Simmons will reportedly sign a 1-year deal with the Sacramento Kings and look to continue his career after such a strong start. Simmons was a 3-time All-Star with the Sixers, won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and made the All-NBA Third Team in 2020. Then injuries took over and the ugly break up in Philadelphia sent him to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal.
Just in: Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney tell me and MarcJSpears. The one-time All-NBA star is back in the NBA for a 10th season after sitting out 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/xj5X7lr3op
Simmons will look to unleash his elite playmaking and defensive ability in Sacramento and get his game back on the right track. When he was right with the Sixers, he was a fantastic player as he averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 ******* ists. The Kings offer him an environment where he can find his game again and come along slowly in order to get back at it.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Former Sixers star Ben Simmons to return to NBA, signs deal with Kings

#sacramento #time #back

The punishment the NBA handed down to the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the league salary cap through no-show sponsorship deals signed by Kawhi Leonard is unprecedented in American professional sports.
The Clippers were stripped of five future first-round NBA Draft picks, received one-year suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker, and a six-month suspension for president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. In addition, the Clippers and Ballmer were fined $30 million.
While the draft-pick penalty mirrors the initial penalty for the Minnesota Timberwolves when they developed a scheme to sign Joe Smith in 2000, two of those picks were eventually restored. And the $3.5 million fine is no comparison, even with inflation, to the monetary penalty for the Clippers.
But for David Samson, it still wasn't enough.
Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show, the former Miami Marlins executive said the severity of the salary cap circumvention called for even harsher punishment, perhaps up to and including firing the executives in question and forcing Ballmer to sell the team.

#show #picks