NBA Hands Clippers Heavy Penalties Over Salary-Cap Violations

The National Basketball Association announced that the Los Angeles Clippers violated league salary-cap circumvention rules in connection with the 2021 signing of forward Kawhi Leonard. After an internal investigation, the league imposed a series of sanctions aimed at the franchise rather than the player.

Newsweek

The NBA stated that the violations occurred when the Clippers arranged off-court income opportunities for Leonard. As a result, the league ordered the team to forfeit five first-round draft picks in the 2029-2033 drafts. Leonard himself was not suspended or voided from his contract, but the league required him to repay $700,000 in restitution.

Newsweek

• Draft pick forfeiture: five first-round selections (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033)

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• Owner penalty: $30 million fine; one-year suspension

Newsweek

• Player restitution: $700,000 payable by Kawhi Leonard

Newsweek

He questioned how the penalties might affect the outlook of players such as Darius Garland and head coach Ty Lue. Green also noted that Leonard claimed no knowledge of the rule breach and expressed confidence in his statement, adding that he was pleased the bulk of the punishment fell on the organization rather than the player.

Newsweek

• “Here's where the NBA dropped the hammer, five first-round picks. It's crippling to a franchise,” — Draymond Green, veteran forward, Golden State Warriors “Here's where the NBA dropped the hammer, five first-round picks. It's crippling to a franchise,” — Draymond Green, state warriors veteran

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