The NBA brought the hammer on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, as the league found misconduct with how the team signed NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard when the latter was a free agent.
"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 Frank and Gillian Zucker, sources tell ESPN," Shams Charania shared on Wednesday in a bombshell update.
Will Leonard be suspended for the probe's findings? Apparantly not.
"Leonard will have to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits by the Clippers for his uncle and former business rep,
Dennis Robertson," Charania's report added. "No contract void or suspension for Leonard. And Robertson -- who was fired by Leonard in June -- is being banned by the NBA from all business dealings."
While Ballmer and the Clippers organization got the harshest punishment by far, Leonard got off relatively easy. His trade to the Toronto Raptors should go through soon now that there is clarity on Leonard's status going ahead.
Has Leonard spoken out?
Yes, he issued a statement through his agent, Harrison Gaines.
Kawhi Leonard, through his new agent, Harrison Gaines, issues statement:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2026
“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… https://t.co/cgWhrjcXuR
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Kawhi Leonard be suspended by the NBA in Clippers punishment?
