NBA punishes Clippers, Steve Ballmer: 5 key findings from the league's Kawhi Leonard investigation

1. The NBA released a 35-page investigation report into the Los Angeles Clippers and star player Kawhi Leonard, finding that the franchise had violated salary cap rules in dealings with Leonard. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver upheld the findings.

2. As a result of the investigation, the Clippers were stripped of five future first-round draft picks, fined $30 million, suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year, and received no-pay suspensions for two top executives.

3. The report stated that the Clippers' prior history of salary cap circumvention was a key factor in the severity of their punishment. The league had previously fined the Clippers $250,000 in 2015 for facilitating an endorsement agreement for DeAndre Jordan and questioned them about possible benefits for Leonard's uncle in 2019.

4. Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year due to her inconsistencies and lack of cooperation with investigators, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months for providing more substantial answers.

5. The investigation also found that Aspiration, a tree-planting service funded by Ballmer, had signed numerous sponsorship deals with Leonard, including four deals during the COVID-19 pandemic when companies rarely made such agreements. The deals were questioned due to their timing and the companies' lack of existing relationships with Leonard.