On September 2, the NBA punished the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the salary cap through some fishy endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, including one with the bankrupt Aspiration.
The league fined the franchise $30 million and stripped it of its first-round picks from 2029 through 2033. They will also forfeit the 2029 pick they received from Indiana from the Ivica Zubac trade, though the Pacers won’t see that pick handed back to them.
The NBA also suspended Steve Ballmer for one year, Lawrence Frank without pay for six months, and Gillian Zucker without pay for one year.
Leonard, however, escaped with a comparatively light punishment, a decision Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green supports. Fans, however, are not on board with Green’s take on the situation.
Draymond Green Backs NBA’s Light Punishment for Kawhi Leonard in Clippers Cap Saga
The NBA did not suspend Leonard or void the 35-year-old superstar forward’s contract. In fact, the authorities ordered Leonard to pay the league $700,000 in connection with his salary cap circumvention violations.
Leonard denied any knowledge of anyone’s intention to circumvent the salary cap in a statement he released after the NBA punished the Clippers organization.
Green, meanwhile, believes Leonard is telling the truth and welcomed the NBA’s decision to impose most of the punishment on the Clippers.
“I’m taking Kawhi’s word for what it is, and I’m happy the team got the bulk of the penalty and not Kawhi,” Green said on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
Draymond Green believes Kawhi had no knowledge of the cap circumvention.
“I’m taking Kawhi’s word for what it is, and I’m happy the team got the bulk of the penalty and not Kawhi.”
(Via @DraymondShow / h/t @NBA__Courtside ) pic.twitter.com/VBcE99WY2R
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 4, 2026
But his statement did not sit well with quite a few fans on social media. Many speculated that the Warriors forward was defending Leonard because other players engage in similar cap circumvention.
“They’re calling it one of the worst takes of all time,” one fan called out.
“Green just defending Kawhi because they are all doing the same thing. Protect one, protect all,” one fan wrote.
“Yeah cuz you did it too and will want to plead ignorance,” another one asserted.
Yeah cus you did it too and will want to plead ignorance.
— AnonCFA (@Anon_CFA) September 4, 2026
Others believe that the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) helped limit Leonard’s punishment. The NBA and the NBPA reached an agreement confirming the penalties as final and binding.
“The team got bulk of penalty because the union protected Kawhi. They agreed upon that ridiculous 700k fine in exchange so that union won’t file grievance. NBA wants this story to end before start of season,” a fan explained.
“If you know how the NBA Players Union works, it’s much more difficult to penalize Kawhi. Getting him to settle to an agreement allows the NBA to avoid arbitration vs Clippers & Ballmer, if they sue, they’d have to open up the books for what they actually did to circumvent the cap,” another expounded.
If you know how the NBA Players Union works, it’s much more difficult to penalize Kawhi. Getting him to settle to an agreement allows the NBA to avoid arbitration vs Clippers & Ballmer, if they sue, they’d have to open up the books for what they actually did to circumvent the cap
— Steve Herr (@_steve_o_) September 4, 2026
Other fans questioned how Green could accept Leonard’s denial of knowing anyone’s intent to circumvent the salary cap, given that Leonard received payments under the endorsement agreements.
“How do you not know that amount of money hitting your bank account and ask ‘Gee, I wonder where the extra $50,000,000 came from?'” one fan questioned.
“So Kawhi just woke up with an extra 8 figures in his bank and had no idea. These new generation NBA players really not doing the next generation any good. These owners taking notes,” another fan reiterated.
So Kawhi just woke up with an extra 8 figures in his bank and had no idea. These new generation NBA players really not doing the next generation any good. These owners taking notes.
— MitchK (@BigBodyMitch954) September 4, 2026
The reason is the investigators explained Aspiration’s agreement as a four-year package totaling $48 million in cash and equity, not a single $50 million cash deposit.
Leonard also signed several endorsement agreements, leading some fans to question his denial of knowing anyone’s intent to circumvent the salary cap.
“It doesn’t matter, he signed the contract. He should’ve read what he was approving,” one fan pointed out.
It doesnt matter, he signed the contract. He should’ve read what he was approving.
— What he said (@KennyJ1975) September 4, 2026
While the loss of five first-round picks will hamper the Clippers’ rebuilding efforts for years, life goes on for Leonard.
He could soon return to the Toronto Raptors if the NBA approves the pending trade.
