NBA penalizes Clippers for salary cap violations after year-long investigation

The NBA issued penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday following a year-long investigation into salary cap circumvention. The league found the team established off-court income opportunities for Kawhi Leonard, including a $28 million endorsement deal through the company Aspiration. As a result, the league fined the Clippers $30 million and stripped the franchise of five future first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033. Senior leadership faced suspensions, with owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year, Gillian Zucker suspended for one year without pay, and Lawrence Frank suspended for six months without pay. Kawhi Leonard, who was recently traded to the Toronto Raptors, avoided suspension but was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits received by his former business manager, Dennis Robertson.

• 11:58 PMCBS NBA — Kawhi Leonard gets best-case scenario, leaves Clippers in the dust after NBA investigation