NBA Fines Clippers $30M, Takes Away 5 First-Round Picks for Salary Cap Violations
The league said the team paid $30 million in fines and lost five first-round picks after investigators found rule-breaking tied to Leonard.
- On Wednesday, the NBA released findings confirming the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in salary-cap circumvention. The league penalized the franchise with five forfeited first-round draft picks and a $30 million fine to owner Steve Ballmer.
- Investigators found the organization facilitated improper payments to companies linked to Kawhi Leonard to secure his signing. Two companies received $10 million payments each, purportedly for business services despite lacking formal agreements at the time.
- Beyond team sanctions, the league suspended owner Steve Ballmer and President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker for one year. President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension, while Leonard was fined $700,000 in restitution.
- Wednesday's announcement validated reporting by Pablo Torre, whose investigation won a Pulitzer Prize despite earlier skepticism. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the league's disciplinary findings, vindicating Torre's earlier work on the circumvention scheme.
- The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a league-overseen compliance and monitoring program for 5 years. Investigators noted they continue to receive relevant information and will supplement their findings as appropriate.
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The NBA imposed an extraordinary punishment on the Los Angeles Clippers for a scheme to circumvent the pay ceiling and, in so doing, generated a series of questions about what comes next for the team, their property and Kawhi Leonard.
What to know about the Clippers’ future moving forward following unprecedented penalties from NBA
The NBA leveled an extraordinary punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers in a salary cap circumvention scheme, and in doing so, created a host of questions about what comes next for the team, its ownership and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers vowed to vigorously fight the crackdown, but their options are limited. The league’s punishment included...
The U.S. league sanctions the Angeline franchise with $30 million and the loss of five draft elections after detecting an irregular funding scheme for player Kawhi Leonard.
The NBA has announced drastic penalties for the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for circumventing the salary cap rules.
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