Steve Ballmer and Clippers Hit With $30M Fine in Kawhi Leonard Salary Cap Case
- On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the NBA cleared Kawhi Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, declining to suspend him or void his contract following an investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers.
- A pattern of misconduct involving a $28 million 'no-show' endorsement deal with Aspiration prompted the league to strip the Clippers of five first-round picks and fine the team $30 million.
- Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for circumvention violations, while Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for six months.
- Following the league's decision, the previously paused trade to Toronto can now proceed, sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a 2027 pick swap, and two second-round selections to Los Angeles.
- Leonard joins a Toronto lineup featuring Barnes, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, and JaKobe Walter, bringing championship experience from his 2019 title run with the Raptors.
448 Articles
448 Articles
NBA suspends Clippers owner, fines team $30 million in cap case
LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five…
The NBA imposes draconian penalties on the Los Angeles Clippers, who had tried to wipe out the system. The Mecano reminds of those of the HC Lugano around the turn of the millennium.
NBA punishment leaves Los Angeles with years of roster constraints
The NBA’s punishment of the Los Angeles Clippers includes a $30 million fine, a one-year suspension for owner Steve Ballmer and suspensions for two senior executives. Those sanctions are severe, but the most damaging basketball consequence may be the forfeiture of five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033. Money and suspensions expire. Missing draft assets can restrict roster decisions for most of a decade. The penalties followed a nearly ye…
Pablo Torre Sounds Off on the NBA’s Historic Ruling Against the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and ESPN — and Teases His Next Big Sports Investigation
“Pablo Torre Finds Out” host on the NBA’s historic ruling against the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard’s slap on the wrist and ESPN undermining his reporting.
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