The Zach Lowe Show Reaction to the Kawhi Leonard Story, Contract Updates, and Most Improved Player Predictions With Kirk Goldsberry
53 snips
Sep 4, 2025 
In this discussion, NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry shares insights on the Kawhi Leonard controversy surrounding salary cap violations linked to sponsorship deals. They delve into the implications of Cam Thomas's qualifying offer and P.J. Washington's extension. Goldsberry also highlights emerging talents in the league, including the Thompson twins, as potential Most Improved Player candidates. The dynamic duo also reflects on the ongoing changes in the All-Star Game format and the broader landscape of player contracts in the NBA.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Past Kawhi Negotiations Raised Early Red Flags
- Kirk Goldsberry recalled working in San Antonio during Kawhi's earlier negotiations where family members pushed unusual demands.
- Those 2019 murmurs led the league to tighten anti-tampering rules and consider audits of team communications.
Suspicious $28M Endorsement Timeline
- Pablo Torre's reporting links Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration, and the Clippers through a suspicious $28M endorsement that paid Kawhi for minimal work.
- That payment's timing and clauses create circumstantial evidence suggesting possible salary-cap circumvention.
CBA Allows Circumstantial Proof Of Circumvention
- The CBA allows proving cap circumvention via circumstantial evidence, including deals that "cannot rationally be explained" absent wrongdoing.
- That clause empowers the NBA to investigate sponsorship payments that exceed fair market value as potential cap circumvention.