Clippers news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
NBA found Clippers violated salary cap, banned owner Steve Ballmer for a year. The ruling stems from a probe into sponsor Aspiration's dealings with Kawhi Leonard.
Background
The NBA investigated whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap through a team sponsor called Aspiration, which had ties to Kawhi Leonard. The investigation began nearly a year ago, and the league's findings were released on September 2, 2026. The Clippers had agreed to trade Leonard to Toronto in June, but the deal was put on hold pending the investigation's outcome.
How it unfolded
- Jun 30, 2026Clippers agreed to trade Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple draft picks.
- Jul 9, 2026The Clippers' trade of Kawhi Leonard to Toronto was put on hold after the Raptors said the league informed them they would assume the risk of any outcome from the investigation.
- Aug 31, 2026League sources said the NBA and Clippers were in talks toward a potential settlement, with the investigation technically still open.
- Sep 2, 2026NBA released findings that the Clippers violated the salary cap and banned owner Steve Ballmer for a year.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The NBA said the Clippers illegally circumvented the salary cap, leading to the ban.
- Analysts
- ESPN's Ramona Shelburne noted the conversations have focused on failure to supervise and introductions between the Clippers and Kawhi's people, rather than direct evidence of salary cap circumvention by Ballmer.
- Caution
- The Clippers and Ballmer may challenge any league discipline through arbitration, potentially extending the process.
Still unverified
The exact details of the NBA's findings and the specific penalties beyond Ballmer's ban have not been fully disclosed. The Clippers' potential arbitration challenge is not yet confirmed.