The decision by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to take five future first-round draft picks from the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to help funnel additional income to Kawhi Leonard was obviously the most damaging element of the punishment doled out by the league.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer can stomach a $30 million fine. Teams also rountinely weather executive exits or suspensions. Losing half a decade’s worth of draft picks?
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The Clippers now have decidedly fewer roster-shaping tools when they appeared ready to take a longer-term approach and build through the draft. The five first-rounders the NBA is taking from them cover the five drafts from 2029-2033...
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