Nuggets ready as Clippers, Kawhi face cap probe

After adding Cameron Johnson, Jonas Valančiūnas, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason, the Denver Nuggets appear primed to challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. With Nikola Jokic leading the way, Denver has assembled arguably his best supporting cast in the NBA. The Nuggets still have room to maneuver, sitting $14 million below the second apron after offloading Michael Porter Jr.’s contract and not yet using the midlevel exception, giving them more flexibility than most contenders. Rather than rushing to use that space, Denver might benefit from waiting and observing how a major summer storyline unfolds. 

As Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers face an NBA investigation for potential salary cap circumvention, commissioner Adam Silver has several options, including suspensions, fines, future draft pick forfeitures, or even voiding Leonard’s contract entirely, which would carry huge implications for the league.