Clippers' future is gone: 'Super-large penalty' strips all first-round picks through 2033; Leonard fined, team owner suspended for one year

*This content was translated by AI.

The future of the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA has been virtually devastated.

Reuters reported on the 3rd (Korea time) that "the Clippers were stripped of five first-round draft picks and fined $30 million (approximately 400 billion won) for violating salary cap regulations related to Kawhi Leonard."

The NBA office also imposed a one-year suspension on Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

U.S. CBS News also reported that the NBA imposed severe sanctions on the Clippers regarding allegations of circumventing the salary cap for superstar Leonard, stating that the controversy and investigation over off-court sponsorship deals, which had continued for a year, have now concluded.

Especially fatal for the Clippers is a future first-round draft pick.

As a result of this NBA penalty, the Clippers have lost their first-round draft pick for five consecutive years.

The problem is that they did not even have their own first-round draft pick prior to this. Due to previous trades, the Clippers already do not hold their own first-round picks for 2027 and 2028.

Under the current circumstances, the team will have no first-round draft picks for seven years from 2027 to 2033. As a result, it will inevitably face significant difficulties in strengthening its roster and achieving generational change through the rookie draft.

The background behind the NBA's such a strong crackdown was Kawhi Leonard's suspicious advertising contract.

Leonard entered into a four-year advertising contract worth $28 million (approximately 38 billion won) with Aspiration Fund Advisors LLC, an environmental firm closely linked to Ballmer. The company filed for bankruptcy last year.

However, suspicions arose that Leonard did not perform actual work related to the contract despite receiving a large sum of money. There were concerns that the deal was a means to circumvent the NBA salary cap and effectively provide additional compensation to Leonard.

The NBA conducted an investigation over approximately one year following media reports on the matter. As a result, it was announced that an independent investigation confirmed repeated misconduct by the Clippers franchise and multiple serious violations of regulations.

Reuters explained that "after media reports emerged stating that Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, received money from an environmental company that is currently bankrupt as a means to circumvent the league's rules capping total player salaries for teams, the NBA has launched an investigation into the Clippers."

He added, "It is reported that the company in question had close ties with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver strongly criticized, saying, "We are deeply disappointed by the blatant violation of our rules and the failure of the Clippers organization and leadership that led to this misconduct," adding, "The severity of the punishment reflects how serious this rule violation was."

In particular, direct responsibility was also placed on owner Bob Bumer.

The NBA determined that Ballmer intentionally helped Leonard to provide him with an opportunity to earn income outside the salary cap.

Accordingly, Ballmer was suspended from all activities related to the NBA league and the Clippers franchise for the next year.

Leonard also could not escape responsibility. In connection with this matter, he is required to pay the NBA $700,000 (approximately 1 billion won).

The investigation found that Leonard also failed to reimburse personal expenses paid by the Clippers on his behalf.

Leon stated in a statement that he accepts full responsibility for the judgment errors made by those around him.

He said, "For the past 15 years, my top priority has been to pour everything into my family, basketball, and those who share the court with me." He added, "Now that I am returning to Toronto, I will focus on what is within my control, wrap up this matter, and move forward from a clean slate."

Leonard's uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, also faced severe sanctions. The NBA determined that Robertson exerted pressure on the Clippers on behalf of his nephew and banned him from contacting any NBA team or performing related duties for the next five years.

The club's top executives also faced a series of disciplinary actions. Jillian Zucker, president of the Clippers' business operations division, was suspended without pay for one year, while Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, received a six-month suspension without pay.

The NBA office plans to operate a separate compliance and monitoring program targeting the Clippers for the next five years.

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*This content was translated by AI.