Federal prosecutors investigate Clippers' salary-cap violations after NBA sanctions

Federal prosecutors investigate Clippers' salary-cap violations after NBA sanctions

The U. S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn opened a criminal investigation on September 11 into the Los Angeles Clippers' alleged salary-cap violations involving forward Kawhi Leonard, after the league's sanctions earlier in the month.

The NBA had, on September 2, fined the Clippers $30 million, stripped five future first-round draft picks, suspended owner Steve Ballmer and president Gillian Zucker for a year, and fined Leonard $700,000 for his role in the scheme. The penalties left the franchise with limited assets for the coming years. Legal analysts note the team faces slim odds of overturning the league's sanctions, and other NBA figures have suggested reallocating the forfeited picks to preserve the draft's integrity.

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11 septembre 2026
2 au total
DOJ opens criminal investigation into Clippers' Kawhi Leonard dealings, report says
DOJ opens criminal investigation into Clippers' Kawhi Leonard dealings, report says

ABC7 Los Angeles • 11 sept. 03h22

U.S. authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers for allegedly circumventing NBA salary-cap rules to pay star forward Kawhi Leonard, following a league-conducted inquiry and sanctions.

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Report: Feds investigating Clippers' Kawhi Leonard dealings
Report: Feds investigating Clippers' Kawhi Leonard dealings

ESPN • 11 sept. 00h59

U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn has launched a criminal probe into the Los Angeles Clippers for alleged salary-cap violations involving Kawhi Leonard, following a league-led inquiry that resulted in fines and draft-pick penalties.

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10 septembre 2026
1 au total
Hiltzik: Inside the NBA's nuclear bomb on the Clippers
Hiltzik: Inside the NBA's nuclear bomb on the Clippers

Los Angeles Times • 10 sept. 10h00

The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, stripped them of first-round draft picks through 2033 and suspended owner Steve Ballmer and senior executives after an investigation found the team orchestrated undisclosed endorsement deals to circumvent the NBA salary cap.

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6 septembre 2026
1 au total
A Deep Dive Into Everything the Clippers Lost for Seven Years of Kawhi Leonard
A Deep Dive Into Everything the Clippers Lost for Seven Years of Kawhi Leonard

Sports Illustrated • 06 sept. 12h32

The Los Angeles Clippers' 2019 trade for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, along with recent salary-cap violations, have resulted in multiple lost draft picks and fines, leaving the franchise with limited assets for the coming years.

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5 septembre 2026
1 au total
Clippers Investigation Notes: Ballmer, Precedent, Torre, More
Clippers Investigation Notes: Ballmer, Precedent, Torre, More

hoopsrumors.com • 05 sept. 03h34

Experts note that the Los Angeles Clippers are unlikely to succeed in a lawsuit challenging NBA sanctions related to a salary-cap circumvention probe.

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4 septembre 2026
3 au total
Kawhi saga a win for player empowerment, a rare rebuke of NBA ownership
Kawhi saga a win for player empowerment, a rare rebuke of NBA ownership

Andscape • 04 sept. 22h17

The league fined Steve Ballmer $30 million, suspended him for a year and imposed draft-pick forfeitures on the Los Angeles Clippers after an investigation found the team circumvented the salary cap.

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Draymond Green shares proposal about Clippers’ lost draft picks
Draymond Green shares proposal about Clippers’ lost draft picks

NBC Sports Bay Area & California • 04 sept. 20h55

Draymond Green suggested that the NBA allocate the Los Angeles Clippers' lost draft selections to other teams to preserve a full draft, after the league penalized the Clippers for salary-cap violations.

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Pablo Torre Feels Vindicated for His Clippers Reporting and Has Words for ESPN
Pablo Torre Feels Vindicated for His Clippers Reporting and Has Words for ESPN

Variety • 04 sept. 00h30

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.

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3 septembre 2026
7 au total
The bombshell messages that doomed Steve Ballmer in Kawhi Leonard scandal
The bombshell messages that doomed Steve Ballmer in Kawhi Leonard scandal

New York Post • 03 sept. 17h45

The league imposed a $30 million fine, a one-year suspension on owner Steve Ballmer, and the loss of five first-round picks after finding the Clippers violated salary-cap rules in a deal involving Kawhi Leonard.

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Clippers president Lawrence Frank turns over 'illicit notes' in Kawhi investigation
Clippers president Lawrence Frank turns over 'illicit notes' in Kawhi investigation

New York Post • 03 sept. 17h07

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.

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Who is Gillian Zucker, Clippers exec punished by NBA in Kawhi Leonard investigation?
Who is Gillian Zucker, Clippers exec punished by NBA in Kawhi Leonard investigation?

The New York Times • 03 sept. 15h16

The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, stripped five first-round picks and suspended team president Gillian Zucker for one year without pay after finding she orchestrated prohibited endorsement agreements for Kawhi Leonard.

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6 winners, 5 losers from Kawhi Leonard scandal after Clippers get hit with NBA ‘death penalty’
6 winners, 5 losers from Kawhi Leonard scandal after Clippers get hit with NBA ‘death penalty’

sbnation.com • 03 sept. 14h56

The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to fund Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deals, stripping five future first-round picks and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one season.

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Kawhi Leonard is a Hall of Fame scam artist who deserves boos
Kawhi Leonard is a Hall of Fame scam artist who deserves boos

Los Angeles Times • 03 sept. 11h00

The league fined Kawhi Leonard $700,000 and imposed a $30 million penalty on the Los Angeles Clippers, along with draft-pick forfeitures and suspensions for team executives, after a year-long investigation found cap-circumvention violations.

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Winners and losers from NBA finding, penalties on Clippers, Kawhi Leonard investigation
Winners and losers from NBA finding, penalties on Clippers, Kawhi Leonard investigation

NBC Sports • 03 sept. 04h04

The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, stripped five future first-round picks and suspended several executives, while player Kawhi Leonard received a $700,000 fine following a probe into cap-circumvention schemes.

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The Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and the most damaging swing-and-a-miss in NBA history
The Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and the most damaging swing-and-a-miss in NBA history

Yahoo Sports • 03 sept. 01h41

The league has stripped the Los Angeles Clippers of five future first-round draft selections and fined owner Steve Ballmer after an investigation found the team circumvented salary-cap rules through off-court endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard.

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2 septembre 2026
8 au total
NBA suspends Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, fines Kawhi Leonard in salary cap scandal
NBA suspends Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, fines Kawhi Leonard in salary cap scandal

AP News • 02 sept. 22h03

The league suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for a year, fined the team $30 million and stripped five first-round picks after finding violations involving Kawhi Leonard’s off-court endorsement deal.

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NBA suspends Clippers owner Ballmer, fines team $30M, Kawhi Leonard $700K in cap circumvention case
NBA suspends Clippers owner Ballmer, fines team $30M, Kawhi Leonard $700K in cap circumvention case

NPR • 02 sept. 21h59

The league imposed a one-year suspension on owner Steve Ballmer, a six-month ban on president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, a one-year suspension on business president Gillian Zucker, a $30 million fine and loss of five first-round picks on the Clippers, and a $700 000 penalty on Kawhi Leonard for violating salary-cap rules.

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NBA hammers Clippers, Steve Ballmer for salary cap circumvention as Kawhi Leonard avoids suspension
NBA hammers Clippers, Steve Ballmer for salary cap circumvention as Kawhi Leonard avoids suspension

CBS Sports • 02 sept. 21h45

The league imposed a $30 million fine, loss of five first-round picks and suspensions on Clippers executives, while owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year ban and Leonard was fined $700 000 after a year-long investigation.

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NBA imposes unprecedented punishment on Clippers for Kawhi Leonard salary-cap circumvention
NBA imposes unprecedented punishment on Clippers for Kawhi Leonard salary-cap circumvention

NBC Sports • 02 sept. 21h20

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.

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NBA suspends Clippers owner for a year, docks team first-round draft picks from Kawhi Leonard probe
NBA suspends Clippers owner for a year, docks team first-round draft picks from Kawhi Leonard probe

NBC News • 02 sept. 21h07

The league fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year and removed five first-round draft picks after finding the franchise violated salary-cap and endorsement rules involving star Kawhi Leonard.

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NBA strips Clippers of 5 first-round draft picks after probe, fines Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer
NBA strips Clippers of 5 first-round draft picks after probe, fines Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer

ABC7 Los Angeles • 02 sept. 20h54

The league stripped Los Angeles of five future first-round draft selections, levied a $30 million fine and suspended owner Steve Ballmer and senior executives following a year-long investigation into salary-cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard’s contract.

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NBA docks Clippers 5 first-round picks, levies $30 million fine after Kawhi Leonard probe
NBA docks Clippers 5 first-round picks, levies $30 million fine after Kawhi Leonard probe

The New York Times • 02 sept. 20h40

The league imposed a $30 million fine, forfeiture of five future first-round draft picks and multiple suspensions on the Los Angeles Clippers organization after a year-long probe found salary-cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard’s off-court deals.

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NBA strips Clippers of 5 first-round draft picks, fines Steve Ballmer $30M in Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention probe
NBA strips Clippers of 5 first-round draft picks, fines Steve Ballmer $30M in Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention probe

Yahoo Sports • 02 sept. 20h26

The league penalized the Los Angeles Clippers with the loss of five first-round draft selections and fined owner Steve Ballmer $30 million after finding the team violated salary-cap circumvention rules involving Kawhi Leonard.

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