NBA penalizes Clippers and Steve Ballmer for salary cap circumvention

The NBA docked the Clippers five first-round picks and issued a $30 million fine following an investigation into salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard. League owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from team operations for one year. A report from the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz alleged Ballmer knowingly helped Leonard obtain off-court income from team sponsors, including Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. While the investigation did not find evidence that Ballmer directly funneled money to Leonard, it labeled his denials inaccurate. The Clippers rejected the findings and intend to challenge the penalties through arbitration. Leonard, who was fined $700,000, accepted the league’s findings and the trade sending him to the Raptors is now permitted to proceed.

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