NBA Punishes Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer, Clippers, Uncle Dennis After Salary Cap Investigation

The NBA announced Wednesday an independent investigation found the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations" and punished the team, Kawhi Leonard and the seven-time All-Star's previous business manager, Dennis Robertson, "for violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement."

Clippers forfeit five first-round draft picks with one coming in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 drafts

One-year suspension from all league and team activities for Clippers governor Steve Ballmer

One-year suspension without pay for Clippers president of business operations Gillian Zucker

Six-month suspension without pay for Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank

Five-year ban from engaging with NBA teams and conducting business with them on behalf of a player, employee or personnel for Robertson

Clippers personnel are subject to additional compliance and monitoring overseen by the NBA for five years

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"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," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the announcement. "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 league's announcement said the Clippers are "a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules"

It also explained Leonard, with Robertson working on his behalf, "violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses."

ESPN's Bobby Marks shared the list of CBA rules the NBA said the Clippers broke:

Leonard issued a statement through his new agent, Harrison Gaines, that said, "Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.

"I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap.

"For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate."

The NBA's ruling comes after Los Angeles agreed to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors this offseason. He notably won a championship and the NBA Finals MVP during his one previous season with Toronto in 2018-19.

The trade was paused while the investigation was ongoing.