Clippers Fined $30M, Lose 5 Draft Picks Over Cap Violations

The NBA has imposed historic penalties on the Los Angeles Clippers and star forward Kawhi Leonard following a yearlong investigation that found the franchise violated salary cap circumvention rules. The league announced Wednesday that the Clippers must forfeit five future first-round draft picks and pay a $30 million fine, while owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for one year. The investigation, conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, uncovered what the NBA described as "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations." The probe began after a 2025 report alleged that Leonard had a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability company in which Ballmer had invested. The investigation eventually expanded to examine the Clippers' broader business relationships. According to the league's findings, team officials helped create endorsement opportunities for Leonard with companies that were doing business with the franchise, including Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance.