Oct 11, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer speaks to the crowd before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer speaks to the crowd before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
The Clippers have undoubtedly become the most publicly scrutinized team this summer after the NBA handed down a historic punishment for their salary cap circumvention scandal involving Kawhi Leonard, which included forfeiting five first-round picks, paying a $30 million fine, and suspending multiple executives.
Amid speculation about what the franchise would do next, team owner Steve Ballmer, who has been suspended for one year from all team-related activities, has finally stated the rulings.
“For my Los Angeles Clippers followers, this has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets.”
“I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.”
“We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward.”
“While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract. The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve.”
“We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff, and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of,” Ballmer concluded.
Reports suggested that Ballmer and the Clippers were considering taking the matter to court. Some even suggested his next steps could bring down several other NBA teams in retaliation by exposing them for similar conduct.
But Ballmer’s statement has indicated that, with their compliance with the NBA’s rulings, they no longer want to take the matter to court. So the next big question for the Clippers is how to recover from the setback this punishment has given their franchise.
Kawhi Leonard is expected to be traded to the Raptors for a package that would yield the Clippers two first-round picks as well. So, clearly, their recovery starts with getting those assets.
However, sources say the Clippers are blaming a lack of active executives for not completing the Kawhi Leonard trade.
According to NBA insider Jake L. Fischer, Ballmer’s statement doesn’t indicate the trade with the Raptors will go through anytime soon.
“The Clippers still haven’t determined who will serve as the franchise’s interim governor, I’m told, as the league convenes its Board of Governors meetings in New York City tomorrow. Steve Ballmer will not attend while he accepts the NBA’s suspension and other penalties,” Fischer wrote on X.
“I would not read Steve Ballmer accepting the NBA’s investigation findings and penalties as any indicator the trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors will be completed imminently. Still sounds like the Clippers aren’t quite ready to get back on the phone with Toronto, even though the NBA league office would process a trade call without an interim governor in place,” he further added.
So the Clippers’ future remains uncertain. Additionally, this also implies the Clippers can’t use any first-round picks in a trade.
The Clippers’ rebuilding of their draft assets, depleted by the trades for Paul George in 2019 and James Harden in 2023, began last February when they traded center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers.
In the trade, the Clippers received two picks, one of which was used to select Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft. The other pick was among the five first-round picks that they forfeited. Moreover, a federal investigation looms over them.
All eyes are now on the league office and the team to see when they appoint an interim governor and proceed with the Kawhi Leonard trade, potentially moving on from a dark chapter in the Clippers’ history.
It will be interesting to see what this statement means for the investigation and how Balmmer navigates his off-court problems with Aspiration and the federal probe from here.