"I'm cheating" - Ex-Warriors star suggests NBA team owners find loopholes to avoid salary cap, cites $125.7 billion Clippers owner's wealth

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas thinks team owners are being cheap when they decide to abide by the salary cap rules. Arenas believes owners should bend the rules to build better teams. On Tuesday’s episode of "Gil’s Arena," the former player expressed his opinion on wanting to see more competitive rosters.

The salary cap is designed to prevent teams from overspending, giving all NBA teams a chance to build a competitive roster. However, the former Golden State Warriors guard finds the current approach boring and advocates for the creation of superteams funded by team owners’ wealth.

Arenas used LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer as an example. With a net worth of $126 billion, according to Forbes, the former Microsoft CEO could afford to overspend.

"Borrow some money," Arenas said. "Let them borrow $10 billion, I need to pay some of these people under the table. Are y'all not trying to be real owners?" he said.

"If I'm (Steve) Ballmer, I don't give a f**k what that salary cap is, I don't care what it says, 'I am cheating, I got too much money to be on the same playing field with you broke a** n****s. We're not in the convo, sir.'"

The NBA hands out cruel punishments to teams that give players money under the table

Arenas’ suggestion could lead to significant problems for all parties involved. A notable example of an organization giving a player money under the table occurred in 2000 when the Minnesota Timberwolves had an under-the-table agreement with Joe Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 1995 NBA draft.

The agreement outlined that Smith and the organization would enter into three one-year deals, allowing the team to retain his Bird Rights. This strategy would have enabled the Wolves to sign Smith to an $86 million contract. However, the arrangement violated league rules, and the NBA uncovered the scheme.

In an interview with DJ Vlad, Smith reflected on the situation and the potential $80 million he ultimately did not receive.

"There was an under-the-table deal done with my agent and the organization without me being involved, but I eventually ended up having to pay the penalty. But I mean, it was an under-the-table deal. That one was, I guess, worth $80 million," Smith said (Timestamp: 3:20).

The NBA punished the Timberwolves severely. The organization was fined $3.5 million, and their first-round draft picks for the next five years were forfeited. Additionally, the contracts with Smith were voided, and the team lost his Bird rights.

Glen Taylor, the Timberwolves’ owner, was suspended for nine months. Kevin McHale, the team’s vice president of basketball operations at the time, was also suspended from December 2000 through July 2001.