NBA fines Clippers $30M, drops hammer on Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard: Live updates

The NBA has dropped the hammer on Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. And now, the Toronto Raptors must assess what they will do next.

A league-backed investigation that spanned 11 months concluded the Clippers circumvented the salary cap with its alleged facilitation of "no-show" endorsement deals for Leonard, their former star forward, the NBA announced Wednesday, Sept. 2 in a news release.

The Clippers are being fined a staggering $30 million, and the team will forfeit five first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA drafts. Leonard has been fined $700,000, payable to the NBA, though he avoids any suspension. The league, however, is suspending Ballmer, the team's owner, from all league activities for one year.

Additionally, Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson, has been banned from conducting business with NBA teams on behalf of any player for five years. Robertson was a key liaison in the endorsement deals between Leonard and the Clippers.

According to the release, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association "have entered into an agreement confirming these penalties are final and binding on all parties." Essentially, this signifies that both parties agreed to not appeal the decision.

Leonard denied any…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/