Los Angeles Clippers Hit With $30 Million Fine For Circumventing Salary Cap, NBA Fans React

The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers’ alleged salary cap has wrapped up, and both parties have been hit with hefty repercussions.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the NBA confirmed that after a year-long investigation, both parties were found guilty of violating the league’s circumvention rules under the CBA.

The Clippers will be fined $30 million to owner Steve Ballmer. He’ll also be suspended alongside president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillain Zucker. Ballmer receives the longest suspension, 1 year, and can’t participate in any league and team activities.

Leonard will have to pay $700,000 in restitution after receiving “improper benefits” from the Clippers because of his uncle and business manager Dennis Robertson.

“The investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules,” writes NBA comms.

The league enllisted Wachtell Lipton who discovered the following wrong doings

● Affirmatively initiating off-court income opportunities between Mr. Leonard and four companies doing business with the team: Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance;

● Facilitating endorsement agreements between these companies and Mr. Leonard;

● Inducing the companies to enter into these agreements by offering them business from the team;

● Paying personal expenses on behalf of Mr. Leonard and his representatives; and

● Failing to report improper solicitations for off-court income opportunities made on Mr. Leonard’s behalf through his then-business manager, Dennis Robertson.

NBA commissioner released a statement on the now-solved matter, saying that he is saddened by the scheme and attempt to get one over on the league.

“The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans. I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

See social media’s reaction to the punisnment below,