Adam Silver discusses Clippers punishment, NBA expansion, why Blazers leaving Portland would be ‘failure’

NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the media Tuesday following the league's board of governors meetings in New York City, and addressed, among other topics, the recent punishment handed down to the Los Angeles Clippers, looming league expansion and the Portland Trail Blazers' future.

Here are some of his most notable comments:

Earlier this month, the NBA released its findings from a year-long investigation into the Clippers and allegations of salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard. The investigation found "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules," the league said.

As a result, the Clippers must forfeit five first-round picks and were fined $30 million. Additionally, owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker were both suspended without pay for a year. Lawrence Frank, the team's president of basketball operations, was suspended six months without pay and Leonard, whose trade to the Toronto Raptors was reportedly agreed to again on Monday night, was ordered to pay the league $700,000.

"I don't think in any way we've done permanent damage to this franchise, but there's no question this is a setback for the team," Silver said.

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/