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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 4: LA Clippers owner Steve Balmer 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 dealing with some distractions off the court. Before the season started, there were allegations of cap circumvention from Steve Ballmer. The allegations centered around the signing of Kawhi Leonard.
According to Pablo Torre Finds Out, the Clippers connected Leonard to Aspiration to help circumvent the cap. Aspiration was to pay Leonard extra money that the Clippers could not afford to pay him in exchange for social media posts. Leonard never did those posts.
Adam Silver has refused to comment on any potential penalties LA would face if the allegations are proven true. One NBA insider believes the possible penalties could be severe.
Clippers Could Lose Three First-Round Picks Due to Aspiration Scandal
While speaking on NBA Radio on SiriusXM, NBA insider Frank Isola mentioned the Clippers could face severe penalties. He mentioned they could lose three first-round picks and be fined over $30 million. Of course, that is if the NBA is able to find proof that they actually did this.
Other franchises around the league have been watching this investigation closely. They want to make sure that a team is properly punished for an egregious violation of the rules. The NBA has not released any findings on the investigation yet, and no allegations have been proven true.
Despite the distractions, Leonard is having his best season as a pro. He is averaging career-highs in points, free-throw shooting, and steals. He’s flirting with a potential 50/40/90 season. His play is a massive reason why LA has turned its season around.
After starting 6-21, the Clippers are now the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They are one of the hottest teams in the league over the last two months. Even with LA trading both James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the team continues to win games.
There is no Timetable On When the NBA will Release its Los Angeles Findings
At this point, there is no indication of a firm timeline for when the NBA will release its findings related to the Aspiration scandal. The Clippers are operating as normal for now. Any findings that the league has likely won’t be released until the team finishes its season.
That means that news would likely wait until mid-April if Los Angeles is eliminated in the play-in or the first round. If they somehow make an unlikely run, the findings could possibly be delayed until June. Either way, Silver is going to have to address this at some point.
If the Clippers do have to forfeit that many first-round picks, that would significantly hinder their ability to build the roster over the next few years. Not only would they not be able to make any selections of rookies, but they wouldn’t be able to aggregate those picks in a trade, either.
Leonard has been playing well enough to be considered for a spot on first team All-NBA. If the Clippers somehow win a title with Leonard on the roster, anything they have done to acquire him might be worth it.
Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano
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