On Wednesday, the NBA announced that it would be investigating the allegations that Kawhi Leonard signed a $28 million deal for a “no-show job,” which was reportedly funded by LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. This won’t be the first time that the league will be looking into reports of under-the-table deals, as another Western Conference team got caught in the crosshairs of the Commissioner’s office 25 years ago.
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Back in October 2000, the late David Stern imposed a hefty fine on the Minnesota Timberwolves for signing Joe Smith to illicit deals. According to reports at that time, the Timberwolves had promised Smith $86 million over a seven-year period when they signed him to a free-agent contract in 1999.
Keith Smith 
@KeithSmithNBA
@KeithSmithNBA
Just in case, here are the penalties when the Minnesota Timberwolves were found to have circumvented the salary cap to sign Joe Smith: 5 first-round picks forfeited (two were returned later), $3.5M fine, Smith’s most-recent contract was voided, and his Bird Rights were stripped away, Wolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended, Wolves GM Kevin McHale was forced to take a leave of absence. Important to note that this happened 25 years ago. In recent years, tampering findings have resulted in the loss of second-round picks.
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