NBA sanctions Clippers with draft picks and fine over Leonard salary-cap violations
The league has imposed a $30 million fine and the loss of five first-round draft selections on the Los Angeles Clippers after finding evidence of salary-cap circumvention related to Kawhi Leonard.
The National Basketball Association announced that the Los Angeles Clippers will forfeit five first-round draft picks and pay a $30 million fine after an investigation concluded the team violated salary-cap rules in connection with forward Kawhi Leonard. The penalty also includes a suspension of owner Steve Ballmer and other team officials.
The decision follows a recent report that the NBA had found no evidence of wrongdoing, but league officials said new information uncovered since August 17 led to the unprecedented sanction. The league described the punishment as the most severe cap penalty ever imposed in professional sports.
"The NBA takes violations of its collective bargaining agreement very seriously and will enforce appropriate penalties," a league spokesperson said.
The Clippers' sanction exceeds previous penalties in other leagues, such as fines and draft-pick losses imposed by the NFL for past salary-cap infractions. The NBA did not disclose the specific details of the evidence that prompted the ruling.