Kawhi Leonard’s NBA controversy has put the Clippers in trouble. Find out why the team lost five draft picks, faced huge fines and what could happen next.

The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a hard time following the NBA sanctions regarding the case of Kawhi Leonard. In this case, five future first round picks have been taken away from the team, the owner of the team, Steve Ballmer has been fined for $30 million and given one year suspension as well. As per the investigation done by the NBA, it was found that the team has violated some of the NBA rules by supporting Leonard in securing business sponsorships that should not have been connected with his NBA contract.

Five Draft Picks Are Now Gone

The biggest blow for the Clippers is the loss of five first-round draft picks. The picks from 2029 through 2033 have all been taken away.

Draft picks are of great value to NBA teams. They present NBA teams an opportunity to pick potential stars of the future. Being denied five picks could have an effect on the Clippers for many years to come. Ballmer, the owner of the Clippers since 2014, has been suspended from participation in all NBA activities as well as from all team-related activities for a period of one year. The team’s CEO and President have been suspended too.

Why Did the NBA Take Such Tough Action?

The case began after questions were raised about a $28 million sponsorship deal between Leonard and the now-bankrupt company Aspiration. The NBA started investigating the deal in September 2025.

The league said Ballmer knowingly helped Leonard get outside business opportunities. It also said Leonard's uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, pressured the Clippers to help him get those opportunities. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that the league viewed the matter as very serious.

“The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations,” Silver said.

Leonard was not suspended. However, he was fined $700,000. He said he accepted responsibility for mistakes made by people close to him but insisted that he did not know anyone was trying to break NBA rules.

The Clippers Are Fighting Back

The Clippers strongly rejected the NBA's findings. The team called the investigation unfair and said it would challenge the punishment through every available option. Ballmer's lawyer also called the investigation a “witch hunt.”

As Business Fortune observes, the controversy could also affect Leonard's future. A trade that would send him back to the Toronto Raptors had been put on hold while the NBA investigation was taking place. Now, there is a strong expectation that the trade will move forward. Leonard said he is ready to return to Toronto and start a new chapter.

The NBA will be keeping an eye on the Clippers over the next five years due to this punishment, which may affect them well beyond this period since they have lost a lot of their future draft potential. For the upcoming seasons, the Clippers find themselves in a tough situation. The team will have to repair its reputation and overcome a number of other obstacles including significant leadership turnover and having to play without any draft picks that could have formed their future.

 

FAQs

Why did the NBA punish the Clippers?

The NBA said the Clippers violated salary-cap circumvention rules by helping Kawhi Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.

How many draft picks did the Clippers lose?

The Clippers lost five future first-round picks, covering the 2029 through 2033 drafts.

Was Kawhi Leonard suspended?

No. Leonard was fined $700,000 but was not suspended.

What happened to Steve Ballmer?

The Clippers owner was fined $30 million and suspended from all NBA and team activities for one year.

Will the Clippers still be monitored by the NBA?

Yes. The Clippers and their personnel will remain under a league compliance and monitoring program for five years.