Steve Ballmer and Clippers Hit With $30M Fine in Kawhi Leonard Salary Cap Case
- On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the NBA cleared Kawhi Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, declining to suspend him or void his contract following an investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers.
- A pattern of misconduct involving a $28 million 'no-show' endorsement deal with Aspiration prompted the league to strip the Clippers of five first-round picks and fine the team $30 million.
- Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for circumvention violations, while Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for six months.
- Following the league's decision, the previously paused trade to Toronto can now proceed, sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a 2027 pick swap, and two second-round selections to Los Angeles.
- Leonard joins a Toronto lineup featuring Barnes, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, and JaKobe Walter, bringing championship experience from his 2019 title run with the Raptors.
342 Articles
342 Articles
NEW YORK The NBA has fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million and stripped them of five first-round draft picks for violating salary cap rules in the case of star Kawhi Leonard, who also must […] The post NBA League Severely Fines Clippers for Violating Salary Cap Bypass Rules first appeared on Novi list.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
West Hawaii TodayClippers lose five first-round draft picks, fined $30 million after Leonard probe
The NBA came down hard on the Los Angeles Clippers, stripping the team of five first-round draft picks, imposing a $30 million fine and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a year over salary cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard.
For violations of the salary ceiling, the NBA imposes draconian penalties on LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer. The case calls into question an entire system.
The NBA has closed on Wednesday the most severe investigation of recent years against one of its franchises. After almost a year inquiring, the league considers that Los Angeles Clippers skipped the wage limit—a rule that sets how much each team can spend on player chips to maintain competitive balance—with irregular maneuvers to retain their star, Kawhi Leonard. The penalty is severe: the Clippers lose five first consecutive rounds (between 202…
The Los Angeles Clippers expected an acquittal, but it's completely different. The NBA goes hard against the team. Club owner Ballmer also has to pay an enormous penalty.
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