NBA suspends Clippers owner Ballmer, fines team $30M, Kawhi Leonard $700K in cap circumvention case
The NBA has issued severe penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers, including a one-year suspension for owner Steve Ballmer and a $30 million fine. The sanctions follow an investigation into salary cap circumvention involving an endorsement deal between Kawhi Leonard and a now-bankrupt firm.
Why it matters
This represents one of the most significant disciplinary actions in modern NBA history, potentially altering the competitive landscape of the league.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year by the NBA, and the team was ordered to forfeit five first-round draft picks and pay a $30 million fine Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving Kawhi Leonard.
Also, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank has been banned for six months and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty.
The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly year-long investigation led by an outside law firm.
The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated.
The team maintained that stance after the league's announcement.
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