The NBA has levied some of the most significant penalties in its history against the Los Angeles Clippers, their owner Steve Ballmer, and star forward Kawhi Leonard. This follows a nearly year-long investigation into salary cap circumvention, revealing that Ballmer and team executives facilitated off-court income opportunities for Leonard, including a $66 million endorsement deal from four companies, with $60 million invested by Ballmer in one company, Aspiration, and an additional $22 million in consulting fees paid by the Clippers to three other companies.
The repercussions for the Clippers organization include a $30 million fine, which is reportedly the largest in NBA history, and the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033. Owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly aiding Leonard in securing these off-court deals and approving a business arrangement that was a precondition for an endorsement agreement. Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker received a one-year suspension without pay for her direct involvement and for providing false statements, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months without pay for his role in the impermissible arrangements and approving Leonard's expenses.
Kawhi Leonard himself was fined $700,000 for his violations, although his contract will not be voided, and he will not face a suspension. His uncle, Dennis Robertson, who was found to have pressured the team for these deals, has been banned for five years from engaging with NBA teams or personnel. These penalties are comparable in severity to the 2000 discipline of the Minnesota Timberwolves for a similar salary cap circumvention, where the team lost five first-round picks (two later restored) and their owner was suspended.
