NBA finds Clippers violated salary cap rules; Ballmer given 1-year ban as team is stripped of 5 first-round draft picks

September 2, 2026 / 1:47 PM PDT / CBS LA

The NBA handed out severe punishments to the Los Angeles Clippers and superstar Kawhi Leonard on Wednesday for allegedly circumventing the league's salary cap rules, closing a year-long saga and investigation into an off-the-court sponsorship deal.

LA will forfeit five future first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033. The franchise already does not have draft picks in 2027 and 2028 due to prior trades.

In addition, owner Steve Ballmer will be suspended from all league and team activities for one year, and the franchise was fined $30 million.

Leonard himself must pay the league $700,000. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors earlier this summer, but the transaction was placed on hold as the investigation ensued.

"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," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "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 the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations."

The…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/