Clippers Hit with NBA’s Deadliest Penalty | Dayton News

The NBA just dropped the biggest penalty in league history on the LA Clippers: a $30 million fine and loss of five first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033, after uncovering a year-long scheme to circumvent salary cap rules by funneling money to star Kawhi Leonard. Owner Steve Ballmer faces a one-year suspension for knowingly enabling off-court income deals, while Leonard must repay $700K and his uncle is banned from NBA operations for five years. Team executives Lawrence Frank and Gillian Zucker also face suspensions and bans. The Clippers and Leonard deny wrongdoing, vowing to fight back — setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that could reshape how teams navigate financial regulations. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1e89336e743346c0