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Silver Says NBA Looked at Precedent Before Doling Out Clippers' Penalties for Cap Circumvention
Silver said the league weighed precedent before docking the Clippers five first-round picks and imposing a $30 million fine and one-year owner suspension.
On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league used the Minnesota Timberwolves' historical cap circumvention case as precedent for stripping the Los Angeles Clippers of five first-round draft picks.
The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month after a yearlong investigation found the team circumvented salary cap rules regarding Kawhi Leonard, issuing a $30 million fine and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year.
"I think that's, in some ways, the most difficult part of adjudicating these disputes," Silver said, noting competitive consequences are necessary while the league aims to avoid punishing the team's fans.
Ballmer accepted the penalties earlier this week and confirmed the fine has been paid, while the Toronto Raptors completed the trade to reacquire Leonard on Monday following league approval.
Silver also noted the league continues to evaluate potential expansion to 32 teams, while managing the ongoing balance of authority in overseeing the organization that turned 30 this year.