The Kawhi Leonard Signing Cost the Clippers Everything

The July 10, 2019 signing of Kawhi Leonard by the Los Angeles Clippers—a three-year, $103 million deal after Toronto’s first title—was meant to end a 49-year Conference Finals drought and restore championship expectations. But NBA findings years later reframed the move: on Sep. 2, after a lengthy investigation, the league ruled the Clippers guilty of circumventing the salary cap. The sanctions included stripping five first-round picks, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining him $30 million, and requiring Leonard to repay $700,000. Over five seasons with Paul George, the Clippers won only three playoff series, never reaching the Finals, and later traded for James Harden in a last attempt.