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Samson Folk, Trevon Heath, and Esfandiar Baraheni detail the latest stroke of the Kawhi news. “The Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard were penalized for circumventing the salary cap on Wednesday, but Leonard’s contract was not voided and he was not suspended. However, the Clippers will forfeit five first-round picks, be fined $30 million, and owner Steve Ballmer, president Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker will all be suspended. Their first-round picks will be taken away in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033. Ballmer and Zucker will be suspended for one year without pay, and Frank will be suspended for six months. Leonard will have to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits provided by the Clippers for his uncle and former business representative, Dennis Robertson. Robertson was fired by Leonard in June and is now “banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of five years,” according to the NBA’s official release. “Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am,” Leonard said in a statement released on his Instagram account. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.” “For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.” Have a blessed day.