NBA imposes historic penalties on Clippers after salary-cap investigation
The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, stripped five first-round picks and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year, while player Kawhi Leonard received a $700,000 fine following an independent probe.
The NBA announced on Sept. 2 that the Los Angeles Clippers violated multiple salary-cap rules, imposing the league’s largest team penalty to date. The sanctions include a $30 million fine, the loss of five first-round draft picks and a one-year suspension of owner Steve Ballmer. Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000 but faced no suspension.
Commissioner Adam Silver said the violations were “flagrant” and reflected “institutional and leadership failures” by the franchise. Leonard issued a statement accepting “full responsibility for the lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle.” Ballmer, who denied involvement, called the investigation “biased” and said the team would explore legal remedies.
The findings stem from an independent review conducted by law firm Wachtell Lipton after a year-long investigation by journalist Pablo Torre, whose podcast series documented alleged off-court income arrangements for Leonard, including a $28 no-show endorsement deal. Torre’s reporting had previously been challenged by former NBA owner Mark Cuban, former player-turned-podcaster Ty Lawson and an August 17 ESPN story that claimed the league had no evidence of Ballmer’s involvement. Torre said the ESPN piece appeared to rely on information supplied by the Clippers and did not include his response.
The NBA’s ruling validates much of Torre’s investigation, which earned a Pulitzer Prize, and underscores ongoing tensions between independent journalists and mainstream sports media outlets. Torre indicated he will next focus on an investigation into Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and related transactions involving the Los Angeles Lakers.