Following the sanction in the Kawhi Leonard case, the Los Angeles Clippers’ only glimmer of relief was the impression that the entire drama had finally come to an end. Or so it seemed, but the truth is that perhaps the worst stretch for the Clippers has only just begun. For once the NBA’s investigation concluded, it would fall to the U.S. authorities to step in and take charge.
According to Michael S. Schmidt, William K. Tashbaum, and Santul Nerkar, reporters for the New York Times, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has opened a federal probe into the matter, and while the exact crime being examined remains unclear, at least one person has already been subpoenaed to testify. Nevertheless, the Times notes that sources indicate it is not yet certain whether charges will be brought against those involved in the operation.
It is worth emphasizing, however, that this investigation was initiated before the NBA announced its punishment of the Clippers, and thus before the public release of the report detailing many of the pieces of evidence that led to that sanction. Consequently, the DA now has access to detailed documents that allow a fairly clear view of what transpired.
What lies ahead is to see whether this matter, which flagrantly violated the NBA’s rules, reaches the point of constituting a federal crime that could bring further trouble to the franchise, to Kawhi, and to the other implicated officials. Although the league’s investigation already took nearly a year to resolve despite the urgency of the case, this development could prolong the process even further.
