NBA imposes huge penalties in scandalous Kawhi Leonard investigation
Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
News
Sources not specified
Outcome reported
- The NBA is taking five future first-round picks from the Los Angeles Clippers and fining owner Steve Ballmer $30 million, while suspending him for one year.
- Kawhi Leonard received a $700,000 fine but no suspension.
- The yearlong investigation found that the Clippers helped Leonard secure advertising contracts with businesses linked to Ballmer as part of an effort to circumvent salary-cap rules and taxes.
The NBA has handed down severe penalties in its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. The team will lose five future first-round draft picks, while owner Steve Ballmer must pay a $30 million fine and serve a one-year suspension.
Leonard received a much lighter punishment. The player was fined $700,000 but will not be suspended.
The Clippers and Leonard drew the NBAโs scrutiny over an alleged attempt to get around salary-cap rules and related taxes. The investigation lasted a year and found that the team paid Leonard additional money by helping him arrange advertising deals with businesses connected to Ballmer.
Leonard joined the Clippers in the summer of 2019, when he was the most sought-after free agent. He signed a three-year contract worth $103 million. This summer, the 35-year-old forward was traded to the Toronto Raptors, the team with which he won the NBA championship in 2019.
With the investigation complete, the trade can become official.
About this summary
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. 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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