NBA Hammers Clippers With Severe Punishments Over Cap Circumvention

September 02, 2026
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The investigation is done and the NBA has brought the hammer down on the Los Angeles Clippers, ruling that they did commit cap circumvention in a scheme that involved Kawhi Leonard. 

The punishment is severe for the Clippers, but not for Kawhi, and looks like this:

  • The Clippers are stripped of five first-round picks
  • Owner Steve Ballmer is fined $30 million and banned from all league and team activities for one year
  • Lawrence Frank and Gillian Zucker have also been suspended
  • 'Uncle Dennis', Leonard's family member, is banned from all NBA activities
  • Leonard must pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits, but will not be suspended nor will his contract be voided
Ballmer's suspension is for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.

It's a massive blow to the Clippers franchise, who get their just desserts for the way the entire poaching of Leonard went down in the first place.

Kawhi has issued a statement, and he is ready to report to the Toronto Raptors:

"I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap. For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate." 

Overall, the Clippers' ill-advised poaching of Kawhi back in the summer 2019, following his World Championship with the Raptors, has been an extremely costly affair.

One MVP, another All-Star, 10 first-rounders... All for a grand total of three playoff series victories. No Finals appearances. And now Kawhi is heading back to Toronto.  


 

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