Commissioner Adam Silver condemned the organization for flagrant institutional failures, noting that Ballmer knowingly approved business deals intended to secure off-court income for Leonard. The league’s investigation revealed that Leonard pressured the franchise to facilitate these payments and failed to reimburse the team for personal expenses. Consequently, Leonard has been ordered to pay a $700,000 fine.
Beyond the owner’s ban, the Clippers face a $30 million fine and the loss of draft capital spanning from 2029 through 2033. High-level front office personnel also face significant discipline: President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended for one year for misleading investigators, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension for his role in approving the illicit arrangements. To ensure future adherence to league bylaws, the Clippers will operate under a mandatory five-year compliance and monitoring program.
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