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The Los Angeles Clippers have had quite the offseason, to say the least, with all of the investigations surrounding the organization. The entire situation centered on Kawhi Leonard and the possibility that he received improper benefits through endorsements.
The NBA finished its investigation on Tuesday, and it is safe to say the Clippers received some of the harshest punishments possible. The penalties include owner Steve Ballmer being suspended from attending games for the entire season.
“The NBA on Wednesday announced severe punishments for the LA Clippers -- including the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a fine of $30 million and a yearlong suspension of owner Steve Ballmer -- for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star Kawhi Leonard,” ESPN wrote.
Another major question surrounding the situation was the trade involving Leonard, which came to a halt once the investigation became public. However, it now appears that the trade could finally come to fruition within the next few days.
“The full expectation around the Raptors and around Kawhi Leonard and the league is that this trade will be going through in the next few days,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said.
The future is not looking particularly bright for the Clippers, as they will have significantly less draft capital to work with after the NBA's punishment. For the time being, their biggest priority is completing the trade that sends Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.
“From the Clippers' perspective, trading Leonard in this exact deal has become a priority, especially after losing five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033. While it is possible that the Raptors could still slightly adjust the first-round picks they're trading to add minor protections, it is expected that Los Angeles will receive outright picks in 2031 and 2033,” NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote.
Los Angeles appears ready to move on from Leonard after the organization was punished for the actions surrounding him. The trade is expected to go through eventually, and the Clippers seem determined to get the deal completed.
Leonard has made $375 million throughout his career, and the Clippers now have one primary goal: getting him to Toronto as quickly as possible. Once Leonard is finally dealt, he can move on to the next chapter of his career, while the Clippers could be left trying to navigate the aftermath of these penalties for quite some time.
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