Former San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has seemingly introduced down one other franchise after the NBA handed down a historic punishment to the L.A. Clippers. The L.A. Clippers have been stripped of 5 first-round picks; proprietor Steve Ballmer was fined $30 million and suspended for a 12 months, and Kawhi was fined $700,000.
Per NBA: The Clippers shall forfeit 5 first-round draft picks, one in every of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts.
Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and crew actions for one 12 months for knowingly searching for to assist Mr. Leonard receive off-court… https://t.co/OhqXDEBirj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2026
All instructed, the penalties have been greater than many anticipated from the NBA however maybe not as a lot as Spurs followers have been hoping for Kawhi. Nonetheless, the injury is finished. Kawhi has all however torpedoed the Clippers after seven seasons in Los Angeles.
Bear in mind, the situation of him signing with L.A. concerned them buying and selling for Paul George, and everyone knows how that turned out. The tip result’s the Clippers giving up a complete of 10 first-round picks for Kawhi and must be having some severe purchaser’s regret.
The entire price of Kawhi Leonard signing with the Clippers:
Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderJalen Williams10 first-round picks2 first-round choose swaps
Freaking unreal. pic.twitter.com/zMU2S4j2GU
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 2, 2026
Clippers lastly really feel the Spurs‘ ache after NBA’s Kawhi Leonard determination
Assuming that Kawhi continues to be traded to the Toronto Raptors, it will mark the top of his disastrous run in Los Angeles. He has absolutely fully burned bridges in Los Angeles now after costing the Clippers a lot.
Nonetheless, he first burned bridges with the Spurs. He sat out for many of 2018-2019 and later demanded to commerce. That transfer basically led to a chronic rebuild for San Antonio that we’re solely simply now getting out from underneath.
The Spurs are again, and dare I say higher than they have been when Kawhi was their finest participant. The Clippers will not be so fortunate. The NBA mainly delivered a gut-punch to the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard has left the Clippers in shambles
No firsts for 5 years beginning in 2028 and going till 2033 mainly eliminates the potential for rebuilding via the draft. The NBA even obtained inventive by stripping them of a choose acquired in a commerce from the Pacers.
In the meantime, Kawhi obtained off comparatively scot-free. He’ll doubtless be traded and can be capable of begin contemporary with the Raptors. After the whole lot that is gone on throughout his time with the Clippers, they most likely cannot wait to see him gone.
It does increase an attention-grabbing query about whether or not his jersey can be retired by the Clippers. For the time being, that appears fairly low. It additionally appears low that he’d have his jersey retired by the Spurs. If he continues to burn brides, then he might have the identical factor occur in Toronto. It appears wherever he goes, hassle follows.
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