The NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer and forward Kawhi Leonard has come to an end. Shortly after the news surfaced that the investigation was wrapped up, a lengthy list of punishments was handed down to the Clippers, Leonard, Ballmer, and several others.
ESPN's Shams Charania was the first to report the penalties, which include a significant loss of draft capital, suspensions for many members of the Clippers' front office, and more.
BREAKING: The NBA has ruled on the Los Angeles Clippers in for salary cap circumvention investigations on Kawhi Leonard after yearlong probe -- stripping the franchise of 5 first-round picks, issuing a $30 million fine to owner Steve Ballmer and suspensions for Ballmer, Lawrence…
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2026
Among the lengthy list of penalties handed down by the league, the following are included:
- Loss of five first-round draft picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033, per Charania)
- $30 million fine to Steve Ballmer
- Ballmer suspended from all league and team activities for one year
- Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker suspended without pay for one year
- Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank suspended without pay for six. months
- Clippers organizationa nd personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for five years.
- Leonard will have to pay $700,000 in restitution for "improper benefits by the Clippers for his uncle and former business rep, Dennis Robertson."
- Leonard's former business rep, Robertson, is banned by the NBA from all business dealings.
It's worth noting that Leonard will not face a suspension. This could mean that the previously agreed-upon trade, which would send him back to the Toronto Raptors, could move forward.
Here is a look at the rundown of the reasons cited by Charania for the suspensions handed down by the NBA to Clippers personnel:
Per NBA: The Clippers shall forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2026
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court… https://t.co/OhqXDEBirj
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Every penalty the NBA dropped on Clippers and Kawhi Leonard after investigation ends
