The Los Angeles Clippers were hit with an enormous punishment for salary cap circumvention earlier this week. The NBA concluded that the Clippers had violated salary cap rules when they signed Kawhi Leonard to an extension in 2021.

The Clippers have a long, painful road ahead of them. Was it worth it? Not even close.

The NBA hammered the Clippers with a $30 million fine, five lost first-round picks, and a one-year suspension for Steve Ballmer after uncovering a series of Kawhi Leonard sponsorship deals worth up to

The NBA also fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million and said the team will forfeit five first-round picks, one in each year in drafts starting in 2029.

Kawhi Leonard has now put the entire salary cap circumvention scandal behind him, while the Los Angeles Clippers took most of the punishment.

The Kawhi Leonard trade to the Toronto Raptors appears imminent as the NBA awaits the final steps to make the blockbuster deal official.

Clippers, Raptors spoke, both sides intend to follow through with Kawhi Leonard trade; Leonard expected to sign extension in Toronto

When will Kawhi Leonard visit OKC in 2026-27 regular season?

The hunger to become a championship-level franchise pushed the LA Clippers into trouble. After leading the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever championship title in June, Kawhi Leonard became an absolute favorite of the team.