Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers are exploring several legal actions against the NBA after being found guilty of salary cap-circumvention schemes to pay Kawhi Leonard.
In a report from The New York Times, the Clippers owner contemplates filing a lawsuit against the NBA or seeking a restraining order to overturn the league's punishments.
"The Clippers and Mr. Ballmer are still trying to figure out how to respond to the punishments from the N.B.A. Among the potential moves they are considering is whether to bring a lawsuit against the league, asking a judge to issue a restraining order, the two people said," the report noted.
"The people briefed on the matter cautioned that it was uncertain whether the investigation would lead to criminal charges, or even result in evidence being presented to a grand jury."
LA Clippers punished over salary cap circumvention for Kawhi Leonard
The Los Angeles Clippers endured the most brutal punishment in the history of the NBA after it was discovered they manipulated the salary cap by handing Kawhi Leonard under-the-table and illegal deals through multiple companies.
The Clippers were stripped of five future first-round picks from 2029 to 2033, ordered to pay a hefty $30 million, and have been subjected to league monitoring of their basketball operations for five years.
Steve Ballmer and Gillian Zucker were suspended for a year, while team president Lawrence Frank is out of the office for six months.
Steve Ballmer considering legal remedies shows his and the LA Clippers' stern retaliation against the NBA after being punished for their salary cap scandal.
Ballmer has consistently denied his and his franchise's wrongdoings in the investigation. And when they were finally found liable and urged to cooperate, the billionaire still insisted on his innocence, which triggered the NBA to punish the Clippers disastrously.
Only time will tell how Ballmer and the Clippers' counterplans against the NBA will unfold, as they are now also being subjected to a criminal probe by the United States Justice Department.