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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 4: LA Clippers owner Steve Balmer cheers on his team before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been under investigation all season long. Ever since the Aspiration scandal started, they have been under investigation for possible cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard. There is no update on the investigation.
Pablo Torre Finds Out has been reporting most of the alleged incidents. They have been the ones who have reported most of what is out there in the public eye. Leonard has not commented on the incident. Steve Ballmer hasn’t commented since his initial denial while talking to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Adam Silver has offered no update on the investigation, only acknowledging that it’s ongoing during All-Star Weekend. One NBA insider is hearing that the penalties could end up being severe.
Clippers Could Be Facing Severe Penalties From the NBA
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the penalties that the Clippers could be facing are severe. He even mentioned they could get the “basketball death penalty”.
“I don’t know what’s in that thing, but there’s certainly a lot of people speculating around the league in NBA front offices that something is coming. That some kind of, of punishment. Whether it is a slap on the wrist or, you know, the basketball death penalty, I don’t know. But a lot of curiosity right now about how close the NBA is getting to revealing all that.”
Mannix makes it clear that no one truly knows what is in the NBA’s investigation files. People around the league are just speculating what could happen. Other teams around the league want the NBA to send a message that something like what is being alleged will not be tolerated.
The Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the league, despite the turmoil. Right now, they sit eighth in the Western Conference standings. That is after they started 6-21. Leonard is in the midst of his best season as a pro, as well.
The NBA Likely Won’t Release Findings Until After the Season
It’s highly unlikely that the NBA will release its findings until after the Clippers are finished with their season. It would be shocking to see them potentially penalize them while they are still alive for a title. Once their playoff run ends, the league will release something.
There is even a chance that the league waits until after the NBA Finals. They might not want to overshadow the Finals with the results of a major investigation into one of their franchises. Of course, the team might have a shot to make the Finals with the way Leonard is playing.
Other franchises have reportedly been rooting for the league to make an example out of Los Angeles. They want them to come down hard on them to prevent anything like this from ever happening again. Silver will have to have irrefutable proof that wrongdoing occurred, though.
Right now, the Clippers have the third-best offense since the All-Star break. If they were not able to sign Leonard, they wouldn’t be this good. This could be a landmark investigation for the league.