One Big Question for Every Eastern Conference Team! Plus, Ballmer Apology and Kawhi to the Raptors!

Zach Lowe (0:00)

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Coming up on The Zach Lowe Show, it's Tuesday morning. It's mid-September. Training camp is almost here. Michael Pina from The Ringer is here for a fun sort of big picture look at the Eastern Conference. One big question for all 15 teams. One question that could define each of their respective seasons, whether they're trying to win the championship or whether they're just sort of building from the bottom, or in the Bucks' case, rebuilding, or in the Bulls' case, kind of also rebuilding whatever the Nets are doing. We each wrote one question for each of the 15 teams. We're going to rapid fire quick hitting through all 15 of them. Kind of a nice way to start looking at the season. We're going to start with the Toronto Raptors. Why? Because Kawhi Leonard is finally months later, a Raptor.

The trade is done. Brandon Engerman and Grady Dick go to what is left of the Clippers, who of course announced over the weekend that they will not, not be contesting the NBA's penalties. They will just accept them. And for all their bluster about lawsuits and witch hunts and all of that, they're just giving up and turning tail and eating the penalty and the trade is done. We're going to talk about all of that and what I expect to hear at Board of Governors later today about the Clippers, about NBA Europe, about expansion, a loaded Zach Lowe Show to start your week with Michael Pina. That's all coming up now.

I went to yet another New York Mets loss last night. We're not going to talk about that. I'm for 4 for the season. It's going great. Michael Pina is here and we're going to do a fun exercise today. One big question. We each wrote one, one a piece for all 15 Eastern Conference teams. A defining, maybe small question, big question, whatever you wanted, something that's going to kind of be a pivot point for each team's season. And we'll do the West next week. Mr. Pina, how are you?

Michael Pina (2:22)

I'm fantastic, Zach. Thank you so much for having me.

Zach Lowe (2:24)

We are going to start with the Toronto Raptors, not because I'm that interested in the Toronto Raptors, or I think the Toronto Raptors are going to win the East, or I trying to get some side deals with some businesses in Toronto. No, not for any of that reason, but because Kawhi Leonard is finally, mercifully, a Raptor under the exact terms that were agreed to months, weeks, years, I don't know, ago. Brandon Ingram is a Clipper, Grady Dick is a Clipper. Two unprotected first-round picks from Toronto 31 and 33 are Clippers' property. Apparently, they're not going to have to forfeit those picks, and a second round are in a swap. And that's all possible because Steve Ballmer released a statement over the weekend or on Monday night, whenever it was, I can't remember saying, they are not. After all their talk, Michael Pina, about witch hunts and using every avenue possible to deflect this podcaster's nonsense allegations and this penalty that the NBA levied after miscommunication and this and that, it's a witch hunt. Oh my God, the lawsuits are going to be flying. Nope, they're just going to eat the penalty. Maybe secretly hope that the penalty will get shrunk. We'll probably ask Adam Silver about that at Board of Governors today. Can I read you Mr. Ballmer's statement, Michael?

Michael Pina (3:39)

Please, please do.

Zach Lowe (3:41)

For my fellow Los Angeles Clippers followers, not sure you're a follower or how many of those there are anymore, but that's just line. We'll just line edit line by line. This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers. And for that, I have sincere regrets.

This and that, what exactly are this and that? What do you regret?

Do you just regret the vibes? I want to apologize, that's a nice word, to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused for which I accept responsibility as principal owner. What is this matter and what are you accepting responsibility for? Just the distraction and the noise? Too bad. We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, that was quick, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract. I don't think I heard anything in there about cap circumvention or like whoops, Gillian Zucker was arranging side deals with four different companies. Did you hear anything in there about that?