Ballmer's Billion-Dollar Gamble | Los Angeles Clippers News

Bill Simmons is pushing a radical idea: Clippers owner Steve Ballmer should spend a billion dollars on payroll to go all-in for championships, ignoring salary cap rules — even if it means alienating fans. This comes after the NBA handed the Clippers a brutal punishment for improperly structuring Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deals, including losing five first-round picks and paying a $30 million fine, while Ballmer himself was banned for a year. Though Kawhi avoided suspension, his former agent is banned for five years, and the lost draft picks could cripple the team’s future. Analysts like Simmons are now urging a “scorched earth” gamble — but whether Ballmer will bite remains uncertain. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2938abba9d926cf4