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NBA: Clippers Lose Five First-Round Picks and Face $30 Million Fine After Secret Deal Investigation

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The NBA concluded a yearlong investigation and found the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard violated team salary rules through an undisclosed arrangement.
  • The league fined the Clippers $30 million, removed their 2029 through 2033 first-round picks, and suspended or fined several executives and associates.
  • Leonard avoided a suspension and his current contract remains unaffected, while the Clippers said they would challenge the findings through every available avenue.

The NBA has handed the Los Angeles Clippers one of the league’s harshest penalties after concluding that the team and Kawhi Leonard evaded salary regulations through a secret arrangement.

The Clippers must pay $30 million, roughly NT$950 million, and surrender five consecutive first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033. The league said its investigation lasted a year and uncovered a series of violations of team salary rules.

The punishment also reached the organization’s leadership. Owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year ban from participating in NBA activities. President Gillian Zucker received a one-year suspension without pay, while general manager Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension without pay. Leonard was fined $700,000.

Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s former adviser and uncle, will be barred for five years from taking part in team or league-related commercial activities. ESPN reporter Shams Charania said Leonard was not suspended, and the penalty does not affect his existing contract. A Clippers-Raptors trade expected this summer could therefore still go ahead.

The Clippers strongly rejected the league’s findings. In a statement, the team said it would seek to overturn the decision “through every available avenue.”

through every available avenue

— Los Angeles ClippersThe team said it would challenge the NBA’s investigation findings and penalties.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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