‘He Owes That to the Fans' — Analyst Urges Steve Ballmer To Adopt Bizarre Strategy After Losing Clippers' Draft Picks in Kawhi Leonard Scandal

Ever since the NBA handed down its strict punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers, analysts around the league have had plenty to say about what the franchise should do next. Just a day ago, NBA agent Rich Paul claimed that if the Clippers 'keep pushing,' they can still remain competitive. However, that is much easier said than done. Now, another analyst has suggested a far more drastic move for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. On a recent episode of The Ringer's 'Bill Simmons Podcast,' Bill Simmons argued that Ballmer should simply lean into his biggest advantage: his money. As the richest owner in the NBA, Simmons believes Ballmer should ignore the restrictions created by the NBA's second apron and spend heavily on the Clippers' payroll over the next couple of years. Simmons even used the colorful phrase 'marrying the nanny' to describe the mentality. His point was that Ballmer is wealthy enough to make a bold decision without worrying too much about how it looks or its long-term consequences. The suggestion came from one of Simmons' listeners, 'Lance in Detroit (now in LA),' but the analyst quickly got on board. 'Steve Ballmer is the richest guy in the NBA. He's out of picks, but he's never going to be out of money. Why not go scorched earth on the second apron? Spend a billion dollars on payroll for the next couple of years. The fans are rightfully angry right now, but if you go all-in to win, they'll forgive you. He says this would be the sports version of one of my favorite moves,' Simmons said. Simmons explained it, saying, 'He calls it 'marrying the nanny.' When you not only commit the biggest mistake you ever made, you then embrace it. Ethan Hawke and Robin Williams both had affairs with their nanny and married them. Both men are still beloved. 'Gavin Rossdale, Jude Law, and many others slept with the nanny, left them, and are pretty [expletive] far from beloved. Steve Ballmer needs to marry the nanny and go over the second apron. I love 'marrying the nanny.' It's one of the best things anyone's said in a while,' Simmons added. Analyst Nick Wright, who was a guest during the segment, agreed with the thinking. Wright pointed out that one of 'the most punitive parts of the second apron' is having picks frozen several years out, which is something the Clippers don't need to worry about. 'The Clippers have a small window of, 'Go bleep yourself, we don't have picks seven years out,' Wright said. 'I do wonder if he could, in the short term, take on bad contracts to get picks attached to him. I think that's what you have to do if you're the Clippers right now… I also think he owes that to the fans,' Wright added during the podcast. Should Steve Ballmer go scorched earth, 'marry the nanny,' and go way over the second apron? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4eFJvQR41r — The Ringer (@ringer) September 8, 2026 The comments come after the NBA completed a nearly year-long investigation into the Clippers. The league found that the franchise improperly facilitated lucrative off-court endorsement arrangements for Kawhi Leonard with companies that had business relationships with the team, primarily Aspiration Partners, as well as Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. According to the NBA, those arrangements effectively funneled additional millions to Leonard outside the salary cap. The punishment was severe. The Clippers must forfeit five consecutive first-round picks from 2029 through 2033 and pay a record $30 million fine. The franchise will also operate under a five-year league-mandated compliance and monitoring program. Ballmer was suspended from all team and league activities for one year. President of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended without pay for one year, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension without pay. Leonard was fined $700,000 but did not receive a suspension, and his contract was not voided. Meanwhile, his uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, was banned from dealing with NBA teams for five years. The financial impact is significant, although the $30 million fine is relatively small compared with Ballmer's enormous wealth. MORE:'Keep Pushing' – LeBron James' Agent Rich Paul Makes Feelings Clear on Clippers' Outlook After Kawhi Leonard Scandal The bigger problem is the loss of five first-round picks, which could severely hurt the Clippers' ability to build their roster in the future or use draft assets in trades. The suspensions of Ballmer and the team's top executives also create a temporary leadership vacuum. That leaves the Clippers with plenty of questions heading into the new season. Simmons and Wright have offered one wild solution, but whether Ballmer actually embraces that approach remains to be seen.