Clippers Accept NBA Penalties, Drop Salary Cap Appeal

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has accepted the NBA's penalties for salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, dropping the team's legal fight. The Clippers have paid their $30 million fine and will move forward under the NBA's penalties, which include five lost first-round picks and Ballmer's one-year suspension. The decision marks a change from the team's initial response, in which they rejected the league's findings and planned to challenge them. Ballmer apologized for the distraction and distress caused by the matter, for which he accepts responsibility as principal owner. The Clippers will face five years of NBA compliance monitoring.