Steve Ballmer has accepted the NBA’s penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers, however that has not prompted the franchise to renew discussions with the Toronto Raptors concerning the pending Kawhi Leonard trade.
Ballmer introduced Sunday that the Clippers have paid the $30 million nice and are complying with the penalties imposed by the NBA following its salary-cap circumvention investigation.
“For my Los Angeles Clippers followers This has been a really troublesome time for everyone related to the Clippers, and for that, I’ve honest regrets,” Ballmer wrote. “I need to apologize to our followers, staff, and my fellow NBA workforce homeowners for the distraction and misery this matter has brought on, for which I settle for duty as principal proprietor.”
Ballmer added that there are nonetheless disagreements with the findings however mentioned the group is targeted on transferring ahead.
Nonetheless, Jake Fischer reported that Ballmer’s resolution shouldn’t be interpreted as an indication that Leonard’s commerce to Toronto is imminent.
“The Clippers nonetheless haven’t decided who will function the franchise’s interim governor, I’m advised, because the league convenes its Board of Governors conferences in New York Metropolis tomorrow,” Fischer wrote. “Steve Ballmer won’t attend whereas he accepts the NBA’s suspension and different penalties.”
Fischer added that the Clippers “aren’t fairly able to get again on the telephone with Toronto,” regardless of the NBA league workplace being ready to course of the commerce with out an interim governor in place.
The commerce between Los Angeles and Toronto was agreed upon June 30, with the Clippers set to obtain Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a choose swap and two second-round picks for Leonard.
The transaction has remained incomplete for greater than two months, regardless of Leonard already becoming a member of the Raptors for a minicamp-style retreat in Miami. The 35-year-old has been restricted to particular person exercises as a result of the commerce has not but develop into official.
The delay adopted the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers and Leonard. The league concluded that Los Angeles violated salary-cap circumvention rules by initiating and facilitating off-court revenue alternatives involving Leonard and 4 corporations doing enterprise with the franchise.
The Clippers have been fined $30 million and stripped of their first-round picks from 2029 via 2033. Ballmer obtained a one-year suspension, whereas Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months with out pay and Gillian Zucker for one yr with out pay.
Leonard was fined $700,000 however was not suspended, and his contract remained legitimate. Dennis Robertson, his former enterprise supervisor, obtained a five-year ban from conducting enterprise with NBA groups and associates on behalf of gamers or league personnel.
The disparity in punishment has reportedly created resentment throughout the Clippers group. Fischer beforehand reported that there was “definitely some resentment” toward Leonard, though he discovered no indication that the franchise was intentionally retaliating towards the star ahead by delaying the commerce.
Leonard averaged 27.9 factors, 6.4 rebounds and three.6 assists in 65 video games for the Clippers final season, capturing 50.5% from the sector and 38.7% from three-point vary. He earned All-NBA Second Group honors and completed seventh in MVP voting.
