NBA Strikes Historic Blow to Clippers with Ballmer Suspensions and Leonard Fines

An 11-month NBA investigation found the Clippers violated league rules by arranging 'no-show' endorsement deals to circumvent the salary cap for Kawhi Leonard. The penalties: a $30 million team fine, five forfeited first-round picks (2029–2033), Leonard fined $700,000 (no suspension), and Steve Ballmer suspended from league activities for one year; Leonard's uncle Dennis Robertson banned from NBA dealings for five years, and Clippers executives Zucker (one year, no pay) and Frank (six months, no pay) suspended, with a five-year monitoring program. The Raptors trade could proceed under the new penalties, and Leonard publicly accepted responsibility while the Clippers vowed to appeal; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called it a major rebuke to the franchise.