The NBA announced major penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday following a year-long investigation into salary cap circumvention tied to forward Kawhi Leonard.

The league stripped the team of first-round draft picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 drafts. It also fined the franchise $30 million, the largest team fine in league history. Owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension from all league and team activities.

Additional penalties included a one-year unpaid suspension for President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker and a six-month unpaid suspension for President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. Kawhi Leonard must pay the league $700,000, while his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson faces a five-year ban from engaging with NBA teams.

The independent investigation conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz concluded that the Clippers organization engaged in a pattern of misconduct. Investigators found that the team initiated off-court income opportunities for Leonard with four companies doing business with the franchise, including Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. The report also noted that the Clippers covered personal expenses for Leonard and failed to report improper solicitations.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that he was deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations and institutional failures. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations, he added.

The Clippers have denied the findings and described the investigation as biased. The team indicated it would challenge the penalties through available avenues.

This marks one of the harshest punishments in NBA history for salary cap violations. It echoes the 2000 case involving the Minnesota Timberwolves, which forfeited five first-round picks for similar circumvention rules related to player Joe Smith.

The penalties limit the Clippers' future flexibility in building the roster through the draft or trades. The team already faces restrictions from prior deals, including obligations to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The investigation stemmed from media reports last year about Leonard's endorsement deals with companies connected to owner Ballmer. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors earlier this summer under terms agreed upon before the penalties were finalized.