Following a report by journalist and MS NOW contributor Pablo Torre and subsequent investigation, the NBA is punishing the Los Angeles Clippers for violating salary cap rules for two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. The league is suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing the team to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Torre tells Morning Joe the scheme is “deeper than even I realized” and therefore more undeniable as Ballmer continues to claim his own innocence.
The NBA has suspended the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers for violating the league's salary rules for the team's star player. Pablo Torre first broke the story and joins The Group Chat to discuss the latest developments. #laclippers #losangeles #basketball #steveballmer #losangelesclippers
MS NOW contributor –and host of ‘Pablo Torre Find Out’ – Pablo Torre joins Morning Joe to discuss the NBA’s punishment for the Los Angeles Clippers and its billionaire owner Steve Ballmer for violating salary cap rules, which comes after his Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the franchise.
The NBA has announced a decision one year after a report alleged salary cap circumvention against the Los Angeles Clippers involving superstar Kawhi Leonard. On Wednesday, the NBA stripped the Clippers of five first-round draft picks – for the years 2029-2033 – issued owner Steve Ballmer a $30 million fine and Leonard has been ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits. In addition, Ballmer, along with Clippers president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, as well as the team's president of business operations, Gillian Zucker, have been suspended. Ballmer is suspended for a year from all league and team activities, Zucker is suspended for a year without pay, while Frank is suspended without pay for six months.…
Two other high-ranking Clipper officials have also been suspended, though President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank has only been suspended for six months.
