Clippers president hands over six-year-old notes in NBA salary-cap probe
Los Angeles Clippers president Lawrence Frank provided notes documenting past dealings with Kawhi Leonard's uncle, leading to league penalties for the team and its officials.
The NBA concluded that the Los Angeles Clippers violated salary-cap rules when they extended Kawhi Leonard’s contract in 2021. League investigators received internal documents from the club, including six-year-old notes kept by team president Lawrence Frank that detailed discussions with Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, about prohibited arrangements.
"He held the notes for six years and turned them over. And in response, he was given leniency," said ESPN insider Brian Windhorst.
Robertson, who served as Leonard’s business manager until this summer, has been barred from any involvement with NBA teams for five years. The league also suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer from all league and team activities for one year and suspended Frank without pay for six months for failing to report and facilitating the illicit requests.
The franchise faces the loss of five first-round draft picks, a $30 million fine, and a five-year compliance and monitoring program overseen by the NBA office. The Clippers have announced plans to appeal the findings and penalties through the league’s arbitration process.