NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Blasts Clippers, Steve Ballmer Over Severe Kawhi Leonard Scandal Penalties
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly criticized the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer after levying major punishments for the year-long Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration scandal. The Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million for improperly facilitating off-court endorsement deals, while Ballmer, Lawrence Frank, and Gillian Zucker received suspensions for “institutional and leadership failures.” Kawhi Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution and has expressed his focus on a “clean slate” with the Toronto Raptors as his trade is finalized.