The NBA just finished its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers this week, and let me tell you, the hammer came down *hard*. We’re talking about some of the harshest punishments imaginable, all centered on star Kawhi Leonard and the possibility he received improper benefits through endorsements. Owner Steve Ballmer is now suspended from attending games for an entire season, which is just wild.
The Hammer Dropped on Ballmer and the Organization
You heard that right: Steve Ballmer, gone from games for a whole year. But that’s not even the half of it. The NBA really hit the Clippers where it hurts for violating salary cap circumvention rules in the Leonard case. According to ESPN, the team got slapped with the loss of five future first-round draft picks, from 2029 all the way through 2033. Oh, and a cool $30 million fine. Seriously, what a mess for the organization. They’re going to be navigating the aftermath of these penalties for quite some time, and it’s a brutal price to pay for what went down. You just don’t see this kind of penalty very often in the league.
Kawhi’s Future and the Clippers’ Urgent Move
With all this organizational chaos, you’d think things might get stalled even further, but it looks like a major move is actually about to happen. The trade involving Kawhi Leonard, which had been on ice since the investigation became public, is now expected to go through in the next few days. ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that the “full expectation around the Raptors and around Kawhi Leonard and the league is that this trade will be going through in the next few days.”
For the Clippers, getting this deal done has become an absolute priority, especially after losing all that future draft capital. NBA insider Brett Siegel noted that trading Leonard in this exact deal is their main focus. While there’s a chance the Raptors could try to adjust the picks they’re sending for minor protections, Los Angeles is expecting to get outright first-round picks in 2031 and 2033. Kawhi has made $375 million throughout his career, and now the Clippers’ primary goal is simple: get him to Toronto as quickly as possible. Once that deal is finally done, Leonard can move on to the next chapter of his career, and the Clippers can finally start trying to dig out of this hole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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