Clippers rat turns over 6-year notes of illicit deals in Kawhi Leonard investigation

The Los Angeles Clippers have been punished for violating salary cap circumvention rules when the team signed Kawhi Leonard to an extension in 2021.According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the NBA received overwhelming cooperation from companies with ties to the Clippers’ investigation and even received key information from president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank without the use of a subpoena.

“There was even cooperation from within the Clippers’ own building.Lawrence Frank, their team president, he handed over notes that he took about making illicit deals with Dennis Robertson six years ago,” Windhorst said.

“He held the notes for six years and turned them over.And in response, he was given leniency.” Robertson, who was Leonard’s uncle and business manager until this summer, played a key role in propelling an NBA investigation into the team and his nephew.

The league has since banned Robertson from engaging with any team for five years.The Clippers rejected the NBA’s conclusions in its investigation and has vowed to “vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”Owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year, while Frank was accused of failing to report Robertson’s illegal requests and facilitating them.He is suspended for six months without pay.

The Clippers stand to lose much, including forfeiting five first-round draft picks and getting fined $30 million.Organization and personnel will also be subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years....