Some Reckless Ballmer/Clippers/Kawhi Speculation

I've got some thoughts and theories about Steve Ballmer

I’m not sure if the Kawhi Leonard “No Show” story uncovered by Pablo Torre is the biggest scandal in NBA history (it has a shot!), but for me it’s among the most fascinating. Leonard getting tens of millions from a fraudulent climate change company to do nothing other than play for the Clippers is a whodunnit. Well I should say that it is, if you’re not already convinced that Clippers owner and 8th richest man in the world Steve Ballmer actually did consciously circumvent the NBA salary cap.

Obviously Ballmer, $50 million investor in Aspiration, the now bankrupt eco corp that paid Leonard nearly $50 million, is the suspect getting the most heat. So let’s take a look at Suspect Number 1, who defended himself to Ramona Shelburne on ESPN’s airwaves Thursday night with:

I made an investment in these guys thinking it was on the up-and-up, and they conned me at this stage. I have no ability to predict why they might have done anything they did, let alone the specific contract with Kawhi.

From allies and opponents alike, I keep getting the same exact scouting report on Ballmer. It’s remarkably consistent and perhaps even a little surprising given the enemies you’d assume such a powerful man might make.

Everyone tells me that this alleged crime does not line up with who they believe Steve Ballmer is. To be clear, this does not exonerate the man. It’s just context. Even though the Clippers were reputed to be relentless tamperers during the 2019 recruitment of Kawhi Leonard, even though they were dinged in 2015 for Deandre Jordan’s endorsement deal, a fraud of this magnitude, done this sloppily, is out of alignment with how Ballmer is perceived in league and business circles. Even foes with cause to resent or even hate Steve Ballmer convey, “I like Steve, I respect Steve.” People in the know also can’t envision that a billionaire so financially buttoned up would pull off such a shady scheme through such a sham company. This is a guy who moves financial mountains where everything is in order. How could this happen on his watch?

And yet…I wonder if these defenses actually might help explain what happened. I stress that I’m speculating here, but I keep coming back to the same general theory of how a guy like Steve Ballmer would run afoul. I say it not as someone who reflexively hates billionaires and believes them to be the root of all societal ills. I say it as someone who observes humans, and regards such people as ever so human.

Steve Ballmer, Billionaire “Just a Guy”