The Los Angeles Clippers got slammed by the NBA for circumventing the salary cap in their dealings with Kawhi Leonard.
They are fined $30 million and lose five first-round draft picks from 2029-2033. The '29 pick came from the Indiana Pacers as part of the Ivica Zubac-Bennedict Mathurin trade. The Pacers don't get the pick back.
The Clippers received the Pacers' 2026 first-round draft pick because that pick fell to fifth. Had it been in the top four, the Pacers would have retained it. L.A. picked Keaton Wagler.
L.A. will be allowed to complete its previously announced trade of Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.
An investigation by Pablo Torre revealed that the team arranged to pay Leonard tens of millions of dollars in endorsement deals through entities with Clippers ties, thereby paying him without applying that money toward their salary cap.
The team said it will appeal the ruling. Leonard said in a statement that he respects the findings.
All 82 games: Indiana Pacers schedule, tickets, roster, preseason for 2026-27 NBA season
Other penalties include:
- Owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year.
- President of business operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year.
- President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months.
- Leonard must pay the league $700,000.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Los Angeles Clippers lose Pacers first-round pick from Zubac trade