Tag: Dennis Robertson

Amick: Lakers refused Uncle Dennis demands, Clippers investigated by NBA

The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports the NBA investigated the Clippers after complaints from the Los Angeles Lakers regarding Kawhi’s uncle.

Christmas Day’s L.A. showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers is almost here, bringing back memories again of the Lakers chase of Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.

The Lakers were reportedly upset with how Leonard’s camp handled things, particularly Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson, known more commonly as “Uncle Dennis.” But until now, it’s unclear what the demands were that upset the Lakers so much other than Leonard just deciding he wouldn’t join LeBron James.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick dropped a bombshell on Monday, illustrating the demands Uncle Dennis made of the Lakers that definitely fall outside of the confines of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, which the Lakers refused to give Robertson.

The stories about Robertson’s wish list made their way to the league office soon after Leonard made his decision, with concerned parties reporting that Leonard’s uncle had asked pursuing teams for much, much more than a max contract (Kawhi ultimately signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers). Sources say the league was told that Robertson asked team officials for part ownership of the team, a private plane that would be available at all times, a house and  — last but certainly not least — a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that they could expect if Leonard played for their team.

This is incredible stuff and from the looks of it, something that the NBA player’s union doesn’t want to make a habit of. Amick also reported that the NBA conducted an investigation on the Clippers, which didn’t turn up anything illicit, but that the league and union no longer want relatives of players handling negotiations unless they are certified agents.

Most understood the fallout of Leonard’s decision to join the Clippers from a basketball perspective. Even though he’s again had to miss several games to manage a knee injury that appears to be an issue that will follow him for the remainder of his career, many see the Clippers as the biggest obstacle in the way of the Lakers to the NBA Finals. But now we also understand the fallout Leonard’s free-agent negotiations have had on the league behind the scenes.

While people in the NBA and likely LeBron James himself knew what was going on, this all adds to the backdrop for these two teams to play for the second time this season. It will also be the first time the Lakers get a look at the Clippers with both Leonard and Paul George.

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But inside the actual Lakers’ facility, …

But inside the actual Lakers’ facility, where their most influential operators were monitoring the situation in those three days after their July 2 meeting with Leonard, his uncle, Dennis Robertson, and agent, Mitch Frankel, there was a strong belief, for a short time, that Leonard would be a Laker. And then, after all the waiting and worrying about whether this pursuit would cost the Lakers dearly elsewhere in free agency if he didn’t come their way, the news broke. Leonard was joining the Clippers — along with Paul George, who would be traded from Oklahoma City in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Nearly five months later, with the …

Nearly five months later, with the Clippers and Lakers set to face off in the NBA’s centerpiece Christmas Day game on Wednesday, resentment remains at the highest levels of Laker Land over how Leonard and his camp handled the process. And as if the growing rivalry between these intra-city teams wasn’t enough to make for a fascinating LA story, now there’s this previously unreported reality: According to three sources with knowledge of the situation, the NBA conducted a formal investigation of the Clippers last summer after complaints surfaced that Robertson had asked for improper benefits during the free agency process.

While sources with knowledge of the …

While sources with knowledge of the investigation said no evidence was found indicating that the Clippers had granted any of the lavish requests, the underlying message coming from Commissioner Adam Silver remains: He sees salary cap circumvention as a cardinal sin in the NBA, and will always keep a watchful eye on that front. If any relevant evidence of improper benefits surfaces in the future, the league will re-open the investigation and pursue the charges yet again.

The stories about Robertson’s wish list …

The stories about Robertson’s wish list made their way to the league office soon after Leonard made his decision, with concerned parties reporting that Leonard’s uncle had asked pursuing teams for much, much more than a max contract (Kawhi ultimately signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers). Sources say the league was told that Robertson asked team officials for part ownership of the team, a private plane that would be available at all times, a house and — last but certainly not least — a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that they could expect if Leonard played for their team. All of those items, to be clear, would fall well outside the confines of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. A source with knowledge of the Kawhi-Lakers talks said Robertson made those requests repeatedly to owner Jeanie Buss over the course of three phone calls that spanned several days, and that she made it clear that such perks were illegal and would not be considered.