Kawhi Leonard Accepts $700,000 NBA Fine as Clippers Lose 5 First-Round Picks
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 2
Kawhi Leonard Accepts $700,000 NBA Fine as Clippers Lose 5 First-Round Picks
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 2
Summary
Kawhi Leonard said he accepts responsibility for lapses in judgment by people in his inner circle after the NBA punished him, the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer over salary-cap circumvention.
The league’s 11-month investigation found the Clippers facilitated alleged “no-show” endorsement deals for Leonard, leading to a $30 million team fine, forfeiture of first-round picks from 2029 through 2033, and a one-year suspension for Ballmer.
Leonard said he entered both his Clippers contract and the related agreements in good faith and had no knowledge of any intent to evade the cap, adding that he wants to close the chapter with a clean slate.
The NBA said the penalties are final and binding under an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, while also rejecting an ESPN report that said investigators found no evidence tying Ballmer to the scheme.