The NBA has delivered major penalties to the Los Angeles Clippers following its investigation into salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard.
The league found that the Clippers helped arrange off-court income opportunities for Leonard through companies doing business with the team, including endorsement agreements that violated NBA rules.
The Clippers will forfeit five first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033, pay a $30 million fine, and owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended from league and team activities for one year. Leonard was fined $700,000.
The penalties could have a lasting impact on the franchise, particularly by limiting its ability to rebuild through the draft over the next several years.