NEW YORK — The LA Clippers penalties for salary cap circumvention are final, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday, and he sees every reason to believe governor Steve Ballmer will return as an owner in good standing after his one-year suspension.
Silver spoke after the NBA Board of Governors met Monday and Tuesday in New York.
The league announced the penalties Sept. 2. The Clippers forfeited first-round picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 and were fined $30 million. Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for one year. President of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended one year without pay, and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended six months without pay. Kawhi Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000.
Adam Silver on the Clippers’ Five Forfeited Picks
Enforcing a set of rules that every team agrees to operate under is one of the league’s core responsibilities, according to Silver, and owners discussed the findings and penalties this week.
“Well, one, we look to precedent as we always do in the league office, and so there is precedent of a team, for a cap violation, a circumvention violation, of losing five picks,” Silver said. “So that was something we looked to. But I think that’s in some ways the most difficult part of adjudicating these disputes, because while there have to be competitive consequences, our view, if these rules are violated, 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 continued. “I don’t think in any way we’ve done permanent damage to this franchise, but there’s no question this is a setback for the team. But as I said, the ultimate goal in terms of these type sanctions are to ensure that other teams don’t engage in this type of behavior in the future, so there has to be something beyond suspensions and financial consequences, and that has to go directly to competition.”
In 2000, the NBA stripped the Minnesota Timberwolves of five first-round picks, fined the team $3.5 million, and voided the contract of Joe Smith after finding a secret agreement that circumvented the salary cap. The league later restored part of that pick penalty.
The Clippers investigation was conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and focused on the Clippers alone. It began in September 2025 after a report by Pablo Torre.
“The direct answer is no inkling like that,” Silver explained. “I mean, again, this investigation was of course specifically focused on the Clippers, but I’ve been around the league for decades. I seem to pick up chatter here and there when other things are happening around the league. I’ve had lots of conversations with general managers, team presidents, owners as to the kind of conduct that goes on. We know around the lines there’s been slippage over the years, but nothing of this nature that I’m aware of.”
Steve Ballmer’s Reinstatement and Kawhi Leonard’s $700,000 Fine
Ballmer released a statement Sunday night saying the Clippers would comply with the penalties and had paid the fine. “I accept responsibility as principal owner,” Ballmer wrote in the statement.
The Clippers are appointing an interim governor for the next year, which the sanctions require, and that person must be vetted.
“The Clippers were not represented at the meetings over the last two days, and I think that was largely because they’re in the midst of a process now where they will be appointing, in essence, an interim governor, and that was part of our sanctions, in essence, that someone shall serve in that role over the next year,” Silver said. “But they’re in the process of appointing that person, and that person, per the prior question, has to be vetted as well. So there’s a bit of a process there before that person becomes official.”
“I think in terms of Steve’s statement, I’d say putting aside the precise words he chose to use, most importantly he indicated a willingness to accept the league’s decision in this case and the accompanying sanctions,” Silver continued. “So that initially was what I was most focused on, which is markedly different than the initial statements that came out of his organization. I think there will be ample time to have additional conversations with him over the next year.”
“And also, this is not information that I’m sharing from a direct conversation with the Clippers organization, but even again from the prior question, there are other inquiries that have nothing to do with the NBA that the Clippers and Steve Ballmer are now dealing with,” Silver added. “And so my assumption is in some cases, he has to choose his words carefully in terms of what he’s saying. But aside from that, I appreciate the fact that he has stood down, that he did apologize and is accepting responsibility. Our plan is to move forward, and every reason to believe that at the end of the year period, he will return to be an owner in good standing.”
Silver met directly with Leonard recently.
“The discipline is final, in fact, to your direct question, and I don’t think it would be appropriate to take you through the back-and-forth with the Players Association,” Silver said. “I did meet directly with Kawhi recently, and I think we all agree it’s time to move forward here. I think David Kelly represented his player well and the interest of the Players Association, and all I can say is I think we reached an outcome for everyone.”
Leonard did not contest the sanctions. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 65 games with the Clippers last season.
The Clippers agreed June 30 to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft picks. On July 9, the Raptors said the trade would not be finalized until the NBA investigation ended.
The Clippers visit American Airlines Center on Nov. 21 and Feb. 7.
