Los Angeles — An independent arbitrator has ordered forward Derrick Jones Jr. to pay former agent Aaron Turner the entire 4 percent commission—about $1.2 million—on the three-year, $30 million contract Jones signed with the Clippers in July 2024. Sportico reports the ruling hinged on Jones’ failure to provide Turner the required 15-day written notice before terminating their Standard Player Agent Contract.
Jones told the arbitrator he negotiated directly with the Clippers after rejecting a three-year, $27 million offer from Dallas that had left him “furious.” He emailed Turner on June 26, 2024 to end their relationship, then asked two days later that the 15-day period be waived. Turner refused.
Possible NBA Discipline for Clippers
Separately, The Athletic outlined the range of sanctions the league could impose if investigators conclude the Clippers used an undisclosed endorsement arrangement with Aspiration to sidestep salary-cap rules during Kawhi Leonard’s recruitment. Potential penalties include a fine of up to $7.5 million for the team, a $350,000 fine for Leonard, loss of draft picks, and suspensions of owner Steve Ballmer or other personnel for up to one year with fines of up to $1 million each. The NBA could also void Leonard’s contract and order him to return the Aspiration payment, though voiding the deal might allow the forward to join another contender on a minimum contract.
Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking at the Front Office Sports conference, said the league has retained a law firm to investigate. “We will get to the bottom of it,” Silver stated. “I don’t know anything about Kawhi’s deal—show, no show; we’ll certainly find out.”
Doncic Describes Trade Shock
Luka Doncic told The Wall Street Journal he was “shocked” when Dallas dealt him to the Lakers earlier this offseason. “I didn’t know how to react, how to act, what to say,” the former Mavericks star said. Doncic added that he halted on-court basketball work for one month for the first time in his career, replacing it with a strict fitness program.
The Mavericks’ fan favorite said he was concerned about upsetting supporters in both cities. “I felt Dallas was my home,” Doncic noted, adding he had many friends in North Texas and appreciated the fans’ backing during his tenure.
Source: HoopsRumors
