NBA sanctions Clippers with draft pick loss and fines over Kawhi Leonard deal
The NBA penalized the Los Angeles Clippers for breaching salary-cap rules tied to Kawhi Leonard, stripping five future first-round picks and imposing a $30 million fine.
A league-commissioned investigation concluded that the Los Angeles Clippers facilitated prohibited side deals linking Kawhi Leonard with Aspiration, Daktronics, Boingo Wireless and Lockton Insurance, breaching NBA salary-cap regulations. As a result, Commissioner Adam Silver imposed a $30 million fine on the team, a $700,000 personal fine on Leonard, and stripped the club of its first-round draft picks for 2029-2033. Owner Steve Ballmer and business president Gillian Zucker each received a one-year suspension, while Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months without pay.
The franchise must also submit to a five-year compliance and monitoring program. The penalties open the door for a pending trade with the Toronto Raptors that could return Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and several draft assets, but the Clippers’ salary flexibility remains limited, with half of this season’s cap tied up in Garland and Ingram.
Why it matters
The sanctions dramatically alter the Clippers' roster strategy and future draft positioning.
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