LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers are not happy with the NBA’s decision to fine Kawhi Leonard only $700,000 after they were found guilty of salary cap circumvention, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Leonard’s penalty was very minor compared to the Clippers’.
Video clip: pic.twitter.com/yQZB0eKYmY
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) September 8, 2026
The Clippers And Leonard Got Penalized; LA’s Penalty Was Huge
The NBA announced that the Clippers and Leonard were penalized for violating the salary cap circumvention rules included in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
The conclusion was based upon information developed through an independent investigation conducted by the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
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.
Leonard, through the conduct of Dennis Robertson on his behalf, violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.
Based on the misconduct, the NBA imposed the following penalties:
● The Clippers shall forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA Drafts.
● The Clippers are fined $30 million.
● Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.
● Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year for being primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for providing false and misleading statements to investigators.
● Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family.
● The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years.
● In connection with his violations, Leonard is required to pay the league $700,000.
● Mr. Robertson is banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of five years.
The Clippers Are Trading Leonard Back To The Raptors
The Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks on June 30, but the trade was put on hold on July 9 because the NBA was still investigating LAC over cap circumvention.
Now that the NBA’s investigation is over, the Clippers can officially trade Leonard to the Raptors and Toronto can negotiate an extension with the future Hall of Famer.
Leonard has one year left on his contract. He will make $50.3 million next season.
A future Hall of Famer, Leonard played for the Raptors during the 2018-19 season. He led the franchise to the 2019 championship against the Golden State Warriors.
