NEW YORK — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the punishment of the Los Angeles Clippers for their role in circumventing the salary cap is final and was meant as a deterrent for other teams not to engage in breaking league rules.
Silver discussed some of the league's pressing matters as they concluded the two-day Board of Governors meeting in midtown Manhattan, while preparing for their 81st season starting Oct. 20, when the New York Knicks begin their defense of the championship against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Los Angeles had five first-round picks taken away, was fined $30 million, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for one year for what the NBA said was the team "knowingly seeking to help" star
forward Kawhi Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.
Two other Clippers executives were suspended, and Leonard was fined $700,000 for their roles in the scheme; they were not represented at this Board of Governors meeting. Ballmer apologized to the team's fans and said in a statement he won't fight the won’t fight salary-cap circumvention penalties.
Silver said during a press conference that there was difficulty in punishing the team, but there had to be "competitive consequences" for rule violations, and he doesn't think that he has done permanent damage to the franchise.
"We still want to be a 30-team league, and we recognize that, in some ways, we're unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well. And so that's the balance we're trying to seek," Silver said. "The ultimate goal, in terms of these type of sanctions, are to ensure that other teams don't have to engage in this type of behavior, in the future, so there has to be something beyond suspensions and financial consequences, and that has to be to regulate competition"
The Clippers concluded the June 30 trade that sent Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors, where he helped win the NBA championship in 2019, for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, as well as two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round selections. That deal had been on hold at the team's discretion while the NBA concluded its investigation into the Clippers.
Latest on Lakers sale
Silver also updated the situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, which is being sold by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for a record $12.5 billion to businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss is challenging that sale, saying her five siblings don't have the right to sell the family's 17.8% remaining stake in the team. Buss, by virtue of having more than 15% ownership of the team, remains the Lakers' governor.
Silver said he had no prior knowledge that Walter, whom federal prosecutors are investigating for potential financial improprieties at two insurance companies he controlled, wanted to sell the team until he heard from buyers who had a handshake deal with him. When dealing with Walter, Silver said the league found no red flags when he originally bought the team in October 2025.
"Even to this day, as you know, these are allegations," Silver said. There are issues that are now being looked into, but independent of Mark Walter choosing to sell this team right now, he was not being investigated by our league."
NBA expansion?
Silver discussed the potential league expansion into Las Vegas and Seattle, as well as the situation in Portland with the Trail Blazers, where the fight for a new arena drags on under owner Thomas Dundon.
Silver made it clear that the team needs a new arena to replace the Moda Center, which opened in 1995 and is considered one of the league's worst venues. He added that they haven't discussed the team relocating and that it would be a "failure" if the team moved.
"It is important, at the same time, that Tom Dundon reaches a deal with the city officials and the state elected officials that makes operating important and viable for the long term. So that's what we're focused on."
There is no timetable for the expansion of the new teams, the last of which was added in 2004 with the Charlotte Bobcats, bringing the league's total to 30. The Bobcats were renamed the Hornets a decade later.
As far as Vegas and Seattle, Silver said the next round of bids will be coming in shortly.
"I think that there is real excitement around either, you know, a renovated T-Mobile Arena," Silver said of Vegas. "I think it still needs some significant improvements, but at the same time, there are groups who have presented plans to go, what I would call, you know, a modern entertainment palace in Las Vegas, and it's a unique market."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA commissioner admits Clippers discipline incidentally 'punishing the fans'
