Clippers owner accepts NBA penalties over Leonard salary cap violations

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said Sunday he will comply with the NBA's punishment even though he disagrees with aspects of the league's probe into major salary cap violations involving star Kawhi Leonard.

The NBA this month walloped the Clippers with a record $30 million fine, stripped the team of five first-round draft picks and banned Ballmer for a year following a lengthy investigation.

The Clippers initially said they planned to fight the punishments, but in a major U-turn Ballmer issued a statement apologizing and accepting responsibility "for the distraction and distress this matter has caused."

"We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward," he said in a statement.

"While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract."

The NBA investigation found the Clippers aided Leonard in evading salary cap rules in deals worth millions of dollars with team corporate sponsors when he signed in 2022.

It found what the NBA called "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules."

An independent law firm concluded the Clippers initiated and facilitated sponsorship income deals between Leonard and four team corporate sponsors -- Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.

The probe found the club induced companies to enter into agreements with Leonard by offering them business, also paid personal expenses for Leonard and his representatives, and failed to report improper solicitations for income opportunities by Leonard's then-business manager.

The Clippers will forfeit a first-round NBA Draft pick every year 2029-2033.

Ballmer was banned from all league and team activities for one year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000.

The $30 million fine is comfortably the largest ever imposed on a team by the NBA, eclipsing the previous largest penalty of $3.5 million against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000 for breaching salary cap rules.

The Clippers had initially said the probe was "heavily biased" to fit what the team called a "predetermined narrative" and vowed to challenge the penalties.

But Ballmer's statement Sunday struck a far more conciliatory note.

"The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community," said Ballmer.

"The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of."