Clippers challenge NBA penalties after salary cap investigation

The Los Angeles Clippers formally challenged the NBA’s decision to impose $30 million in fines and the loss of five first-round draft picks. The penalties follow an 11-month league investigation into allegations that the team facilitated improper endorsement deals for former forward Kawhi Leonard. In a statement released Wednesday, the team labeled the investigation biased and pledged to contest the sanctions through an arbitration process. The league also suspended owner Steve Ballmer from all team activities for one year and fined Leonard $700,000. Leonard denied any knowledge of attempts to circumvent league salary cap rules, stating he accepted responsibility for oversight within his circle. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association reached an agreement confirming the penalties as final, though the franchise intends to pursue further action to overturn the ruling.

• 9:41 PMYahoo Sports — Clippers 'vehemently reject' NBA's findings, will 'vigorously challenge' penalties
• 9:24 PMYahoo Sports — Clippers response to NBA ruling: We vehemently reject these findings as a biased investigation looking to justify a predetermined narrative