NBA announces punishments for LA Clippers after Kawhi probe - ESPN

The NBA on Wednesday announced severe punishments for the LA Clippers — including the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a fine of $30 million and a yearlong suspension of owner Steve Ballmer — for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star Kawhi Leonard.

In a statement, the NBA said a near-yearlong investigation «found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules.»

As a result, the Clippers must forfeit first-round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033. In addition to the $30 million fine, Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year «for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,» among other issues. President of business operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year. And president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months.

New York law firm Wachtell Lipton led the investigation into the Clippers. It released a summary report on Wednesday into what it found. That report can be found here.

Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, wasn't suspended but must pay the league $700,000.

All penalties are binding, the league and the players' union said.

«The NBA's collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,» commissioner Adam Silver said. «I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers' institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of