The Los Angeles Clippers has done a pretty solid business this summer by improving its roster by adding players like Bradley Beal but they are now in a spot. The ongoing investigation against Kawhi Leonard after he was accused of circumventing the salary cap could end up changing the Clippers’ entire situation for the upcoming season despite James Harden’s efforts to bring in players. As expected, this has added a layer of pressure on him which did not even exist at the end of their last season.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger shared this thought: “While age is certainly a concern, the Clippers’ old guys have one important thing in their favor: All of them were good last season. Leading that group is James Harden, who played 79 games in his age-35 season. He can probably take a few more days off this season because the Clippers have some other people who can actually dribble, importing Chris Paul and Bradley Beal in the offseason,” he wrote.

This should’ve been the year where the Beard and Co. took things to the next level after winning 50 games last season despite struggling with injuries. More so, with the additions they’ve made throughout the summer. You could argue that L.A. has signed aging players, some of whom are past their primes, but there’s a huge point that many people have overlooked while assessing the Clippers’ acquisitions over the offseason: All the players they’ve signed are in great form.

On top of this, there’s no questioning Harden’s ability to lead the Clippers, but the real difference could come from the new additions. Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez bring proven quality and much-needed depth to the roster. Still, all of that may mean little if Kawhi Leonard isn’t on the floor. With the league’s investigation into his future still in its early stages, the Clippers’ biggest question mark remains unresolved, as nobody is sure of the outcome.

And if the veteran forward’s three-year $149.5 million contract becomes void, which, by the way, is a real possibility, Harden will have to bear the weight of the entire fan base’s expectations. While this won’t be the first time the guard will be leading a team on his own, it’s still concerning news for an aging James Harden. The eleven-time NBA All-Star is 36 years old, and he’s not the same player he was just a few years ago. Nonetheless, if there’s anyone who can prove the masses wrong, it’s the Beard.

Just last season, he put in a great showing, averaging 22.8 points along with 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds. Another factor helping James Harden will be the addition of Chris Paul and Bradley Beal, both of whom can take off a bit of pressure from his shoulders, as also pointed out by John Hollinger. However, while Harden and his new teammates gear up for a crucial campaign, all eyes are on Kawhi Leonard, as Pablo Torre sends a strong message to Adam Silver.

“Biggest Test:” Pablo Torre sends a strong message to Adam Silver, putting Kawhi Leonard’s future in jeopardy

The Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration saga continues to make headlines, with the NBA and Adam Silver now under the spotlight. This comes after Pablo Torre, the journalist responsible for putting out the report that accuses the LA Clippers star and the franchise of circumventing close to $48 million around the league’s salary cap. This prompted the NBA’s commissioner to open an investigation against Leonard and the Clippers, as they hired a New York-based law firm to look into the matter.

While the investigation has begun, Silver has suggested that the NBA will not be rushing its final decision, with all eyes now on the league. Meanwhile, Torre has further increased the pressure after he gave an interesting take during his recent appearance. “I think this is the biggest test of Adam Silver as commissioner. And I say that knowing that there are other candidates, but he came in with Donald Sterling. That was, in retrospect, an easy call. Documentary evidence. A tape. In three days, they said, banned for life,” he told ESPN.

Torre used the Sterling case as an example, during which Silver took strict actions, as he demands the same level of strictness while dealing with Leonard and the Clippers. This adds another layer to this saga, as previously, over two decades ago, when the Minnesota Timberwolves circumvented their way through the salary cap to sign Joe Smith, they were handed several suspensions and fines, along with Smith’s contract being voided, and them getting their first-round picks being forfeited.

Keeping that in mind, Torre has urged Adam Silver to take such harsh actions and make an example out of Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers so that such a situation might not arise again in the future. Nonetheless, all of these actions can only be taken once the league finds Leonard and Co. guilty; if not, they can easily evade any such fines or suspensions. So, we’ll have to wait until the league finishes its investigation; only then can we figure out the consequences.