The NBA hit the LA Clippers with severe penalties, including a one-year suspension for owner Steve Ballmer and the loss of five first-round picks, over salary cap circumvention. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith addressed the situation, praising Ballmer while emphasizing that league rules must be enforced.
The Los Angeles Clippers salary cap circumvention case has been one of the most discussed topics this summer in the NBA. Now, a fellow league team owner has shared his view of the situation involving Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer.
Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, showed respect to Ballmer, but emphasized that every team in the NBA has to follow the league’s rules.
“Steve is a standup individual first and foremost. This game is tricky, this game is hard, and obviously we have rules, and the NBA’s gotta do it, and I’m glad he accepted it, and we all can just turn the page and move on,” Smith spoke to Daniel Roberts of Front Office Sports.
“But it’s not the first time this has happened in the league, but these rules have to mean anything. As owners, we’re held to a pretty high standard comparatively. I think the NBA is way better with him [Ballmer].”
Ballmer, Clippers receive harsh punishments from NBA
After a year-long investigation led by law firm Wachtell Lipton, Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers were found liable for manipulating the salary cap and paying Kawhi Leonard through illegal hidden endorsement deals.
The league leadership dropped the hammer by suspending Ballmer for one year from all NBA and team activities. President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker was also given a one-year suspension without pay, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank also received a six-month suspension.
The Clippers suffered the worst. They were ordered to surrender their five consecutive first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033, pay a $30 million fine, and submit to a strict five-year league compliance and monitoring program under the NBA.
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