Update · LAC / TOR
★ MarqueeDone deal
Clippers stripped of five first-rounders in Leonard cap ruling
The NBA has fined the Clippers $30 million and penalized Kawhi Leonard $700,000 over cap circumvention tied to his collapsed Aspiration sponsorship.
Los Angeles also forfeits first-round picks from 2029 through 2033, and owner Steve Ballmer, GM Lawrence Frank and business president Gillian Zucker all draw suspensions for helping arrange the off-court income deal, according to the league's findings.
Leonard keeps his contract intact despite the repayment, and his former agent has been banned from future NBA business dealings, while his new representative maintains he acted in good faith.
The Clippers say they will contest the ruling in arbitration, and Leonard's pending trade to Toronto is now on hold as the case plays out.
$30M fineLeonard LAC → TOR
+ 8 reports from 5 outlets
Yahoo Sports · 3 Sept 2026Clippers fined $30M, lose five picks as Leonard-to-Raptors deal stalls
New York Post · 3 Sept 2026Clippers stripped of five first-round picks in Kawhi cap ruling
Yahoo Sports · 3 Sept 2026Clippers' Kawhi punishment recast as league's costliest cap gamble
CBS Sports · 2 Sept 2026League fines Ballmer, docks picks after Kawhi cap probe, no suspension
RealGM · 2 Sept 2026Clippers lose five firsts, Ballmer suspended in cap ruling
Heavy · 2 Sept 2026Clippers stripped of five first-rounders in Leonard cap ruling
Yahoo Sports · 2 Sept 2026NBA fines Ballmer $30M, strips five Clippers first-rounders over Kawhi deal
Yahoo Sports · 2 Sept 2026Clippers fined $30M, Leonard docked $700K in cap circumvention case