From NPR · · 1 min
NBA Hits Clippers with Historic Salary Cap Penalties
Steve Ballmer is suspended for a year and the Clippers are fined $30 million following an investigation into Kawhi Leonard's endorsement deals.
In brief
Steve Ballmer is suspended for a year and the Clippers are fined $30 million following an investigation into Kawhi Leonard's endorsement deals. The NBA imposed unprecedented penalties on the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap through undisclosed off-court financial deals for Kawhi Leonard. Originally reported…
NBA drops historic penalties
The league suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year and fined the franchise $30 million alongside stripping five first-round draft picks over salary cap violations.
Execs and Leonard fined
Team executives Gillian Zucker and Lawrence Frank received suspensions, while star forward Kawhi Leonard was penalized $700,000 following a year-long investigation.
Fraudulent firm sparked probe
The investigation centered on a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration, a company whose co-founder was sentenced to 14 years in prison for fraud.
League details cap circumvention
The NBA concluded Leonard's inner circle pressured the Clippers for off-court income, and Ballmer knowingly assisted in securing those unauthorized deals.
“knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities”
Clippers vow legal battle
The franchise forcefully rejected the league's conclusions, calling the probe heavily biased and promising to challenge all penalties in arbitration.
“We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence”
Leonard prepares Toronto return
Leonard accepted responsibility for lapses by his representatives while maintaining he acted in good faith as his trade back to the Raptors proceeds.
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”
The short version
The NBA imposed unprecedented penalties on the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap through undisclosed off-court financial deals for Kawhi Leonard.
