Credit: Jason Mendez for SiriusXM/Justin Ford via Getty ImagesPablo Torre reported on yet another potential salary cap circumvention move by Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Stephen A. Smith thinks that if its real, the NBA should be ruthless.Kawhi Leonard was supposed to be back with the Toronto Raptors by now. The only thing thats stopped him is the ongoing NBA investigation into his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.Pablo Torre reported in 2025 that Leonard and the franchise had tried to circumvent the leagues salary cap. The claim is that they did so by getting him bogus sponsorship money through Aspiration.Torre added to that this week, with a report suggesting that this same thing had also happened with another team sponsor, Daktronics. Its no surprise that the NBA world is starting to lose its patience.Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty ImagesStephen A. Smith lists four punishments for Kawhi, Clippers if NBA finds them guiltyWhile the entire scandal has stayed in the headlines, a resolution to the leagues investigation is not expected until 2027. But if it does result in a guilty verdict, Stephen A. Smith has suggested what needs to happen.Smith isnt exactly known for having moderate opinions, and hes come out all guns blazing on this topic. The ESPN talking head is of the opinion that any punishments should be severe.Bottom line is this, Stephen A. said. If this is true, if youre the NBA, you vaporise the contract of Kawhi Leonard. And in the same breath, not only do you do that, you suspend him.You suspend him and dont allow him to play for at least a year. You confiscate draft picks from the Clippers, but you also suspend Steve Ballmer from attending the games.Smith went on to claim that the league will be forced to take measures like this because of how harsh other punishments have been in recent times.While it is unlikely that the NBPA will let a year-long ban on Kawhi playing ever happen, it will be hard to defend the star should the allegations be proven true. The situation is continuing to grow murkier.Read more:One technicality could save Kawhi Leonard if NBA finds Clippers star guilty of salary cap circumventionPablo Torres new multimillion-dollar secret sponsorship claim might mean trouble for Kawhi Leonard, ClippersInvestigation finds Kawhi Leonard has been long-hidden investor in controversial soccer team